Ringing

We still need somebody to volunteer to take over from our retiring Treasurer. It is your opportunity to contribute to the work of our charity. Wednesday 29th A cold and frosty morning with no breeze. Thirty-four birds were caught of which 21 were new. Blackbird was top with six followed by five Golodfinches. The trickle of Chiffchaffs continued with another…

Can you help? Our Treasurer, is moving from the area and so is stepping down from his post. We need somebody to step up to the mark. Bo has prepared a short manual to describe what he does and how it is done and would like to help ease a new person in if possible. Contact treasurer@sbbot.org.uk Tuesday 31st As…

Saturday 30th A clear night followed by a lovely calm morning created great conditions. There were more than a hundred each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff around the Haven first thing. With only one senior ringer and one trainee we were careful to use just two net rides. One hundred and nineteen birds were ringed and there were no retraps or…

Wednesday 30th Overnight rain seems to have prevented migration and there were just five new birds. Four of these were Blackcaps and the fifth was the first Swallow we have ringed this year. A quick comparison of the monthly total for August this year and for August last year shows a total of 758 new birds this August and 828…

Sunday 30th It was very windy but there are enough leaves on the bushes to allow some nets to be used. Fourteen birds were ringed two of which were Garden Warblers. Blackcaps continue to show they have had a successful season with another four young ringed. Probably as a result of the very unsettled weather to the west there were…

Friday 30th A very quiet morning with just new Blackcap and Robin plus retrap Blackcap and Long-tailed Tit. There is unlikely to be much ringing next week as we have some essential maintenance to do. Wednesday 28th A muggy but fairly calm morning produced another selection of young birds. These were two each of Robin, Blackbird and Whitethroat plus singles…

Sunday 28th Although the wind had a rest overnight it quickly increased this morning. Four new birds were ringed – Blackbird, Song Thrush and two Starlings. A check of the local House Martin colony was a more positive. I had not expected eight of the 16 boxes to be occupied and with healthy clutches, another four had lined nests. Lets…

Sunday 30th Another quiet morning which was enlivened by the first Jay of the year. Another new Blackcap suggested that although arriving a bit late they are building up to good numbers. Saturday 29th There was a bit of breeze but not enough to affect ringing. Seven new birds included a Willow Warbler, a Goldfinch, a Dunnock, two House Sparrows…

Thursday 30th Despite the strength of the wind there were a couple of sites where nets could be used safely. A short session yielded a Firecrest (the first this year), a Song Thrush and a retrap Chaffinch. Monday 27th The morning dawned with only a slight breeze which dropped away allowing a slight frost which was quickly melted away. At…

Sunday 26th Despite a bitterly cold north-easterly a brief attempt yielded a new Chaffinch plus three retrap Robins and two retrap Starlings. Friday 24th An early frost cleared quickly but the wind moving to north remained cool. The feeders continue to be popular but catches remain small. The new bird today was a female Mallard caught in the heligoland. The…