Friday 30th
A calm start followed by a stiff breeze mid-morning. To emphasise the approach of autumn Blackcap was the most numerous with 35 of the 48 new birds being Blackcap. Next most numerous was Chiffchaff with five. There were also two Reed Warblers, three Willow Warblers and singles of Robin, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat.
Although hirundines could be heard feeding very high none were interested in being ringed.
Thursday 29th
Although the team were not available this photo reflects the glorious weather at present.
Wednesday 28th
The run of calm, hot, days continued with a clear start before some high cloud turned it humid. Setting the heligoland before first light produced a possibly unique experience. I noticed a large bird perched on the pole at the entrance. A headlight on to it was not enough to show any detail but there was something about the long-necked, relatively small headed, silhouette that gave a clue. It clearly was not an owl and was not the correct shape for Common Buzzard. The bird took off and flew past us confirming my suspicions that it was a Honey Buzzard. It must have roosted near there perhaps drawn in by the number of wasps busy 'milking' the aphids on the willows.
The catch remains low with 17 new birds. A clear sign that autumn is on its way was that the top species was Blackcap with 10 individuals. Other migrants were two Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, and a Garden Warbler.
Tuesday 27th
A hopeful team walked out on a lovely, calm, and slightly misty morning. There was not an increase in numbers and 29 birds were ringed. The ticking of Robins is a noticeable feature at the moment and three were ringed. There were also three Reed Warblers, two of which had noticeable amounts of fat. One scoring 5 and the other 6 out of 8. There were also three Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, seven Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, six Willow Warblers, two Great Tits and two Chaffinches.
Despite our best efforts we still have not seen or heard a Tree Pipit so far.
Monday 26th
A bit of a breeze which picked up noticeably as the day heated up. The slow trickle of migrants continued and 21 birds were ringed, Bird of the morning was another new juvenile Sparrowhawk which put in a dramatic appearance. As one of our team walked up to net six a Blackbird threw itself out of the bushes and into the net just a couple of feet in front of him. The bird bounced back out and disappeared just as the Sparrowhawk burst out of the same area in hot pursuit. Fortunately it did not extract itself from the net and was taken back for ringing.
Also of note is that there were four retrap Willow Warblers. It would appear that having arrived from less settled weather to the north and west they are hanging around to build up energy stores.
Sunday 25th
After a few days off due to the wind and yesterday the rain it was a calmer start and ringing was back on.
Forty one birds were ringed and there were just three retraps, two of which were Willow Warblers which had hung around during the windy weather. Willow Warbler was most numerous with 16 followed by 14 Blackcaps, two Robins, one Sedge Warbler, three Reed Warblers and singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit and Chaffinch.
One of the brood of five Sparrowhawks ringed in July was found dead by a member of the public after it flew into a window.
Wednesday 21st
The wind dropped enough to give a cool but pleasant start allowing some ringing. First thing there were clearly birds around but most moved on quickly. There were 23 new birds and 12 retraps. The latter helped by six Long-tailed Tits, two of which were at least three years old. The dearth of hirundines continued and so it was notable to ring a Swallow. Other migrants included six Blackcaps, five Willow Warblers, three Reed Warblers, two each of Whitethroat and Chiffchaff and a Garden warbler.
Monday 19th
A calm clear start did not give a reason for migrants to stop here. Twenty birds were ringed with six Blackcaps marking the arrival of autumnal species. There were also six Willow Warblers, three Reed warblers and singles of Wren, Robin, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Chaffinch.
As part of the nationwide monitoring of Blackbird survival we have been colour ringing the Blackbirds here. We retrapped two today but where are the others? There has not been a single sighting of a red colour-ringed bird away from the nets.
Sunday 18th
The second day of the busy weekend was not as productive as the first in terms of numbers but did produce a nice variety of species. There were 61 new birds and 22 retraps. The retraps were mostly not yesterdays birds as they seem to have moved on.
The highlights were three Pied Flycatchers, the first Spotted Flycatcher this year and a female Sparrowhawk. The other new birds were two Dunnocks, four Robins, a Blackbird, four Sedge Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, three Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, six Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, 19 Willow Warblers, two Long-tailed Tits, a Blue Tit and two Great Tits. There is still no sign of any hirundines or pipits.
Saturday 17th
After two days off due to wind or rain it was maximum effort today for our annual ringing weekend. One-hundred-and-sixty-six birds were ringed and there were only five retraps. The number of Acrocephalus warblers benefited from the early start with 48 Sedge and 44 Reed Warblers ringed. The lack of hirundines these days was reflected in just one being ringed - a Swallow. The other birds were three Wrens, two Dunnocks, ten Robins, single Blackbird, Lesser Whitethroat and Blue Tit, four Whitethroats, seven Garden Warblers, 14 Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, 26 Willow Warblers and two Great Tits.
Wednesday 14th
The difference last night was that cloud built up. It did not make a lot of difference to the birds and the slow, steady, trickle continued. The tit flock wandered near the nets and a few of the warblers with them went in. Eighteen birds were ringed and eighteen retrapped. The new birds were eight Willow Warblers, three Blackcaps, two Reed Warblers, two Long-tailed Tits and singles of Sedge warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Blue Tit.
A sure sign that autumn is advancing is that the juvenile Blackcaps are starting to complete their post-juvenile moult and some are now sexable using cap colour.
Tuesday 13th
Another hot day but the light breeze was back in the west. This meant there were a few more migrants around. Twenty-two birds were ringed - all of them warblers. They were seven Willow Warblers, four Whitethroats, three Garden Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, two Blackcaps, and single Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.
Monday 12th
A hot, humid, start at 20°C. There were not many new arrivals in the ringing area but one of these, a Pied Flycatcher, graced our nets. The other new birds were two Garden Warblers and singles of Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Wren and Blackbird.
It was a bit like ringing by the Mediterranean with an Ant-Lion flying around Net 11 and a Gypsy Moth in Net 10!
Sunday 11th
Calm and warm to start with and the steady trickle of migrants heading south continued. They were led by the fifth Wood Warbler of the year. Reed Warbler was most numerous with 11, plus a UK control. There were ten Willow Warblers, five Whitethroats, four Sedge Warblers, three Garden Warblers and singles of Robin, Blackcap, and Great Tit. One of the retrap Long-tailed Tits was a retrap of an adult ringed in 2022.
Saturday 10th
Back to calm and warm starts and 18 birds were ringed. All were departing migrants including the fourth Wood Warbler this year. The others were 13 Willow Warblers and singles of Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff. The Willow Warblers were not around first thing but appeared later when some cloud gathered for a while.
Thursday 8th
The breeze started earlier but not before the third Wood Warbler of the year was ringed. The other new birds were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Reed Warbler, two Chiffchaffs and nine Willow Warblers.
Wednesday 7th
The calm warm starts, followed by strong breezes continue. Sixteen birds were ringed. The best was the second Wood Warbler this year. The others were a mixed bag of locals (Wren - 1, Robin - 1, Blackbird - 1, Blue Tit - 1 and Great Tit - 1) and migrants (Reed Warbler - 1, Garden Warbler - 1, Chiffchaff - 1 and Willow Warbler - 7). Although there were more Willow Warblers around they were hitched up with the tit flocks who know where to avoid the nets.
Tuesday 6th
The run of calm starts continued, this time with a bit of cloud which was blown away as the midday wind got up. Sixteen birds were ringed - 13 Willow Warblers, and singles of Robin, Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.
Hopefully our members and visitors are watching out for colour-ringed House Sparrows. Today was the first time I can remember when I did not hear or see a single sparrow around the Observatory.
Monday 5th
Clear and calm overnight and warming up rapidly this morning. There were 13 new birds - eight Willow Warblers, four Reed Warblers and a Garden Warbler all of which were juveniles.
Sunday 4th
Calm and humid with high cloud. Twenty-three birds were ringed. The highlight was a Nightingale. The others were Wren 1, Robin 1, Blackbird 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 2, Garden Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 9 and Chaffinch 1.
There was also a Reed Warbler which had been ringed elsewhere in the UK.
Saturday 3rd
It cleared overnight and then went unsettled with showers during the day. The showers came from the west and did not bring any migrants. Eight birds were ringed. Linnet was new for the year and the others were Robin, Song Thrush, Whitethroat and four Willow Warblers.
Friday 2nd
Calm, warm and humid with some cloud. This brought in a few migrants and 29 birds were ringed. Surprisingly there were only two Willow Warblers but 11 Sedge and ten Reed Warblers made up for this. The other new birds were singles of Wren, Robin, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blue Tit and Bullfinch.
Thursday 1st
Although this is traditionally 'Wood Warbler' Day no ringing was possible due to early rain and drizzle.