Walney Golf Course

31 August 2010 Present: KH; JAF
23 new birds ringed: Wren 1; Dunnock 2; Robin 3; Blackbird 5; Blackcap 1; Blue Tit 5; Great Tit 3; Chaffinch 3.

Walney Golf Course site - the reed beds have extended considerably over the summer

Adult Dunnock in heavy wing and tail moult

Eyed Hawk Moth found when cutting rides

                                                                                                                           Photograph Rosalyn Gay

Record catch at Next Ness

13th August 2010
Present: KH, JAF
67 Birds processed, 65 new (retraps in brackets): Wren 1; Dunnock 2; Blackbird 1; Chiffchaff 3; Coal Tit 2; Blue Tit 31 (1); Great Tit 19 (1); Treecreeper (1); Chaffinch 6.
This represents the largest catch by far at this ringing site.

This juvenile Chaffinch undergoing post-juvenile moult has enough pink breast feathers 

growing thorough to be able to sex it as male

You can see more pictures and information about our Next Ness site here.

Siskin at Roudsea

12  August 2010
Present: JAF
30 birds processed (retraps in brackets): Marsh Tit: 1 (2); Coal Tit 6; Blue Tit 6 (1); Great Tit 8 (1); Nuthatch 1; Siskin 1; Redpoll 3.

This crazy young Siskin was attracted to a Redpoll tape!

This handsome male Redpoll was among the three that were caught

Growth bars at Askam Park

Present ES, JAF; 8 August 2010
Just eight birds processed before the kids got up and start playing in the park.
Blackbird 3; Dunnock 1; Robin 1; Chaffinch 1; House Sparrow 2.

Here are more pictures of Askam Park

Emily has to watch her head as she rings a Blackbird under the tailgate of my X-trail

This juvenile House Sparrow displays a conspicuous growth bar in the tail. 

Evidently there was a period of curtailed growth - perhaps during heavy rain

Getting into moult at Roudsea

4th August 2010
Present: KW and JAF
We erected 5 x 18m and 2 x 12m nets, one at a baited site.
We processed 32 birds of which 6 were retraps (in brackets) : Great Spotted Woodpecker (1); Wren 1; Robin 1; Blackcap 2; Chiffchaff (1); Willow Warbler 3; Marsh Tit 3; Coal Tit 3; Blue Tit 4 (1); Great Tit 4 (3); Redpoll 5.

A single black feather in the crown is sufficient to sex this juvenile Blackcap as a male

Kim undertakes her first primary moult score with this Great Tit

A rather moth-eaten looking adult Blackcap in active primary moult (three feathers in the centre are growing)