Ringing

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…

  Sunday 29th Overcast with mostly a cool but gentle breeze. Three new birds again, this time a Song Thrush and two Chaffinches. For the first time for a while no House Sparrows. The next task is getting some of the large nest boxes, which have been donated, up. Saturday 28th Good, fairly calm, conditions meant it was possible to…

Tuesday 27th After a run of mild, damp, and/or windy days this morning dawned clear and a frost formed. It only lasted a couple of hours as cloud rolled in. The bushes were very quiet and only eight birds were caught. Two of these were new, firstly a Chaffinch and finally a Redwing. This could be the last bird ringed…

Friday 25th Stormy weather limited ringing activity but when conditions allowed birds, particularly thrushes, were still moving. Today was clear and not too breezy, the sun still getting the temperature into double figures and tempting a couple of Common Darters out in the Whitehouse. There were plenty of thrushes around but most were busy feeding in the isolated bushes and…

Monday 30th The mild weather continues to suppress migration. Nine birds were ringed. These were a Robin, two Song Thrushes, a Great Tit, two Chaffinches and three Lesser Redpoll. Saturday 29th The very mild spell seems to have put a stop to typical migration, indeed there were several Swallows which we might have caught if the breeze had not picked…

Friday 30th Clear overnight with a calm start meant there were lots of birds around. By the time the wind arrived we had ringed 192 birds. This was made up of 93 Blackcaps (+ a control), 74 Chiffchaffs, six Goldfinches, five Blue Tits, four Goldcrests, three Song Thrushes, two each of Robin and Great Tit, and singles of Wren, Reed…

Tuesday 30th The wind continued to restrict what nets could be used and it appeared to limit new arrivals as well. Birds ringed were a Magpie, two Blackcaps, a Robin and a Willow Warbler. The best was left to the very last when a Common Rosefinch was found in the Whitehouse nets. This is the first record here for 54…