Blues at Hay Bridge 19/03/2011

Present KH, RG and CG

After 101 Siskins we returned to the same site 10 days later and complete silence.  The noise from the flock had been remarkable. 96 birds were processed of 12 species (re-traps).Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Dunnock 1, Robin 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Marsh Tit (1), Coal Tit 4 (2), Blue Tit 34 (13), Great Tit 8 (5), Nuthatch1, Chaffinch 12, Goldfinch7, Siskin 3. The only thing of note was an adult male Chaffinch with a wing of 93mm and the sorry state of the Blue Tit shown below.

 

Is this Feather Mite?

Some Degradation 

This Wing Okay

101 Siskins Ringed 09/03/2011

Present JS , KH, RG and CG

A not at all promising day turned out to be the opposite. Strong West Winds with rain almost led to the cancelling of the day at Hay Bridge.  It was only the horrible forecast for the rest of the week that decided us to have a go. We took with us some drop traps as insurance against the high winds   The birds processed were as follows, (re-traps). Robin 0 (1), Blackbird 0 (1), Long-tailed Tit 1 (1), Blue Tit 18 (3), Great Tit 2, Treecreeper 1, Chaffinch 13, Goldfinch 11, Siskin 101 (3), Lesser Redpoll 9 (2). We had two controls a Siskin and the last bird of the day a Lesser Redpoll. 

Chardonnerets -  Taken, used successfully at the start. 

One of the One Hundred and One

Too Busy to Pose

Roudsea 7 March 2011

Present: JAF, CG, RG.

64 birds processed, 20 new (additional retraps in brackets): Marsh Tit (4); Coal Tit 3 (+2); Blue Tit 8 (+18); Great Tit 8 (+19); Nuthatch 1; Chaffinch (1).

Ros and Colin extract from a mist net set in coppiced hazel scrub

Rassing Day 2

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR, 2 March 2011
Present: JAF, KW, PM
A quieter day, 47 birds processed, 17 new (additional retraps in brackets): Marsh Tit (4); Coal Tit 1 (+1); Blue Tit 13 (+17); Great Tit 2 (+7); Nuthatch (1); Chaffinch 1.

 Pam records while Kim processes a Nuthatch

Let the Rassing commence!

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR, 1 March 2011, Present JAF

A good start on the first day of the Marsh Tit RAS season with one new bird and 18 retraps/re-sightings.

A total of 116 birds processed, 39 new (additional retraps in brackets): Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (+3); Marsh Tit 1 (+18); Coal Tit 2 (+2); Blue Tit 20 (+21); Great Tit 10 (+33); Nuthatch 4; Chaffinch 1.

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR on a spring morning

 The first Marsh Tit of the 2011 R.A.S season

And what better way to kick-off the RAS season than with a fry-up on the trangia!