Brown Blue Tit 04/02/2010

Present KH

Thursday I decided to get among the Siskin and Redpoll Flocks at Hay bridge. A total of 49 birds were processed with 37 new,(retraps in brackets):

Blue Tits 25 (4); Coal Tits 3(1); Great tits 4(7); Blackbird 1(0); Nuthatch 1(0); Redpoll 3(0).

Below are photographs of a Blue Tit? We have some differently coloured tits in the valley. Another Blue Tit was photographed but the subtle difference in plumage was not apparent on the photos.

The brown colouration appeared to come from the lack of the fine barbules on the feathers that hold the blue colouration, notice how my fingers show through on the bottom photograph. Please feel free to comment.

Pre-rassing commences at Roudsea

Present: JAF

The "RAS Season" for our Marsh Tit study begins formally on 1st March. However, February is a the month for setting up feeding stations, catching and colour-ringing last-year's juveniles that were missed during the winter and generally "getting the feel of things". The last two days (2 nd and 3rd March) were spent in Roudesea Woods and Mosses, targeting Marsh Tits. In the 2009 season, survival of adults was well up to average; however recruitment of new birds into the population was very poor, suggesting a poor breeding season in 2008.

This winter, very good numbers of new Marsh Tits have been ringed, suggesting an excellent breeding season last year (2009). I ringed 10 this morning alone and 19 individuals were accounted for in the two days.

In these two days, 109 birds of 8 species were processed, of which 59 were new. The numbers are below (retraps in brackets:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (1); Blackbird 1; Marsh Tit 10 (9); Coal Tit 2 (9); Blue Tit 17 (13); Great Tit 22 (18); Nuthatch 1; Redpoll 6.

A clearing through the woods under the power cables is a good habitat for catching Marsh Tits

Frost Delayed Start at Eskmeals 30/01/2010

Please Note Nearest Cumbrian Village is Ravenglass

Present MW,AM, JS.

In my absence a start time of an hour after sunrise was agreed. The excuse was to help thaw the nets. Please note it is a high security area and nets can be left furled. This did not greatly reduce numbers; 51 new birds, 20 re-traps. Included in the new birds were 16 Fieldfare, 4 Blackbirds, 6 Song Thrush and 6 Bullfinch. The remainder were the usual mix with the notable absence of Blackcap, there being 7 caught a week earlier.

Black Day at Eskmeals 23/01/2010

Present KH , AM , JS.

The day stared badly when it was realised that we only had 12 "C" rings and there were Fieldfares all over the site. The finding of the Black Redstart in one of the nets saved the situation. 83 birds were processed and 100+ would have been achieved if we had brought enough "C" rings.
1 Black Redstart, 12 Blackcaps, 7 Blackbirds, 7 Blue Tits, 10 Bullfinches,2 Chaffinches, 2 Coal Tits, 3 Dunnocks, 5 Fieldfares, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Goldfinch, 5 Great Tits, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Redwing, 9 Robins, 8 Song Thrushes, 1 Wren.

Black Redstart. Photo: Jack Sheldon

This is what you can enjoy when not busy ringing at Eskmeals

Redwing. Photo: Allan Mackenzie

Redwing. Photo: Allan Mackenzie

Fieldfare. Photo: Allan MacKenzie

Fieldfare. Photo: Allan MacKenzie

Chardonneret Traps 20/01/2010

Present K H

A cold East Wind caused a change of tactics. On a wall 3 Chardonneret and a Potter Trap were placed under some feeders. The fat balls were taken off the trees and placed in the traps. Results 1 Blackbird , 8 Blue Tits , 3 Great Tits , 1 Nuthatch , 1 Chaffinch , 2 Long-tailed Tits. This method does not appear to provide many re-traps. Is this an advantage ?

Grey Day at Hay Bridge 19/01/2010

Present K H

One 12 metre net was erected for two hours by feeders covered with Siskins and Redpol, then the wind started to blow. Result Blackbird 1,Blue Tit 25, Redpol 3, Coal Tit 2, Great Tit 5 , Dunnock 1, Goldfinch 2.

Long Tom at Roudsea 17/01/2010

Present: JAF

The weather suddenly spring-like, with Marsh, Coal and Great Tits in song, I put up a net at a feeding station in the ride we call "Long Tom" (named after the very tall feeder installed there).

A good catch of 44 birds, of which 32 were new.
New birds: Wren 1; Marsh Tit 6; Coal Tit 5; Blue Tit 10; Great Tit 8; Nuthatch 1; Redpoll 1.

The six new Marsh Tits and 8 Great Tits colour-ringed were a useful addition to these two RAS projects.

Roudsea Woods and Mosses National Nature Reserve. The long scar going diagonally down to the right is a clearing for overhead grid power cables, and is an excellent habitat for butterflies in the summer

The "Long Tom" ride

First Nuthatch of the year

Pottering at the Pits

Present: JAF

With the weather not suitable for mist-netting I thought I'd try my luck with a couple of Potter traps at Askam Pits, targeting the Moorhens, well fed by the landowner.

Two traps - two Moorhens. Well, what do you expect - Fowler is my name!

An adult Moorhen in the hand

Aren't I a handsome fellow?

Surprise at the Pits!

Present: JAF

Visited Askam Pits to see what was going on. Surprisingly few birds caught, only 15: 12 new and three recent local retraps.

New birds: Woodcock 1; Dunnock 1; Robin 1; Blue Tit 3; Great Tit 4; Chaffinch 2.

The birds caught were well up to weight and the tits appeared to be more interested in attacking the Alder and Larch cones than they were in indulging themselves in my rather expensive bait!

The Woodcock which 'bounced' twice before it was safe in my hands!

Birds Ringed 2009 Cumbria

The number quoted includes adults, pulli, retraps and recoveries.

1. Woodpigeon 1
2. Sparrowhawk 3
3. Oystercatcher 9
4. Ringed Plover 6
5. Mute Swan 1
6. Collard Dove 1
7. Kingfisher 1
8. Great Spotted Woodpecker 14
9. Swallow 2
10. Sand Martin 7
11. Meadow Pipit 14
12. Grey Wagtail 2
13. Dipper 1
14. Wren 84
15. Dunnock 58
16. Robin 134
17. Blackbird 74
18. Fieldfare 23
19. Song Thrush 34
20. Redwing 13
21. Sedge Warbler 2
22. Reed Warbler 2
23. Lesser Whitethroat 15
24. Whitethroat 14
25. Blackcap 53
26. Willow Warbler 42
27. Goldcrest 63
28. Spotted Flycatcher 6
29. Long-tailed Tit 40
30. Marsh Tit 38
31. Coal Tit 115
32. Blue Tit 593
33. Great Tit 325
34. Nuthatch 14
35. Treecreeper 8
36. Jay 4
37. House Sparrow 4
38. Chaffinch 125
39. Greenfinch 10
40. Goldfinch 49
41. Siskin 47
42. Redpoll sp. 109
43. Bullfinch 102
44. Reed Bunting 11
45. Tawny Owl 1
46. Pied Flycatcher 73
47. Starling 4
48. Twite 94
49. Little Tern 7
50. Artic Tern 12

Total 2465

Askam - Twite Catches in 2009

Present : JS , KH and JAF.

There were 62 new birds ringed with 30 re-traps and 1 control from Heysham. 7 of the re-traps had not been caught since 2007 and a further 5 had not been caught since spring 2008. The bird which holds a longevity record has not returned so far this winter.

Jack is ready to process a batch of birds (you can see the whoosh net in the background)

Jack's van is an ideal field station

A nice male Twite with bright pink rump

Up to 200 of these curry-coloured little birds inhabit Askam salt marsh through the winter

New Year in the Pits 03/01/2010

Present: JAF

Got the year off to a start at Askam Pits, 16 birds processed. New: Great Spotted Woodpecker 1; Wren 1; Robin 1; Blue Tit 4; Great Tit 4; Treecreeper 1; Chaffinch 2.

The retraps were 2 Coal Tits, one of which was first ringed on 2 November 2003, subsequently retrapped on 26/12/2005, and 6/12/2006.

Always pleasing to catch a Treecreeper

Askam Pits: looking west to East across the larger rectangular pit at the top of the
Google image in the post below.
Enough reedbed to support a couple of pairs of Reed and Sedge Warblers in the summer.