Eskmeals Saturday 21/07/2012

Present JS, RG, CG, LH and KH.

Bright sunshine and the poor breeding season reduced our normal July catch size by approximately 50%.  A total of 56 birds were processed of 14 species.  They were as follows, (retraps). Wren 3(1), Dunnock 9, Lesser Whitethroat 1,  Blackcap 4, Blue Tit 8(1),  Robin 7, Song Thrush 2, Chiffchaff  8, Willow Warbler 4, Great Tit 2, Treecreeper 1, Jay 1, Bullfinch 1, Lesser Redpoll 3

Reduced Activity

Our main ringing site being out of bounds until recently due to security clearance problems, the groups activities have been much reduced.  The  following is a summary of our activities during April, May and June,
a total of only 137 birds processed of which there were 25 species. They were as follows (retraps) :
Peregrine 2, Tawny Owl 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Tree Pipit 3, Wren 1, Dunnock 2(1), Robin 5, Blackbird 5, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 2, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff  9, Willow Warbler 6, Goldcrest 1, Pied Flycatcher 10, Long-tailed Tit 1(1), Marsh Tit 15(11), Coal Tit 1(2), Blue Tit 11(1), Great Tit 9(12), Nuthatch 11, Treecreeper 1, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 3, Greenfinch 2.

 Nest and eggs of a ground nesting Tawny Owl against a large conifer. Two pulli ringed and survived as the nest was in the middle of a fox proof  pheasant pen.

Some people spend money on fibre optic endoscopes. This photograph through a mirror shows a correctly designed nest box and a mirror is all you need. 

One of two ringed with a Schedule 1 Licence.  A very poor year in our area for this species. 

Ground Nesting Tawny Owls

Present RG, CG, KH, LH and JS.

When this bird was found we could not believe how early she was nesting and that it was on the ground.There is a definite shortage of natural holes in this large larch wood. All three eggs hatched but only two have survived to this stage. 

March - Ringing Totals

Present RG, CG, LH, JS, AM and KH
The highlight of the month was a returning Chiffchaff that was ringed and re-trapped on two occasions last year, therefore, it would be reasonable to say it is returning to breed. The other thing worth mentioning was the Blackbird with the de-formed bill, was re-trapped and does not appear to be losing any condition, see earlier blog for photographs.  A total of only 13 species was processed during the month. They were as follows, re-traps being the second number shown.
Wren 4,4; Dunnock 4,1; Robin 1,0; Blackbird 0,2; Song Thrush 2,0; Chiffchaff 7,1; Marsh Tit 0,4; Coal Tit 1,1; Blue Tit  9,3; Great Tit 1,5; Treecreeper 1,0; Chaffinch 6,0; Bullfinch 0,2.

Eskmeals - Old Robins Re-visit.

Present KH. LH. RG, CG, and JS.                                                                         Date 11/02/2012

A total of 48 birds were processed of which 33 were re-traps. They were as follows (re-traps).
Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 1(2), Dunnock (2), Robin 2(7), Blackbird 1(1), Blackcap 2, Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit (3), Coal Tit 1(1), Blue Tit 5(15). Bullfinch 2(1).

Two of the seven re-trap Robins were a minimum of five years old and although re-trapped previously one had not been seen for two and the other three years.

This got me thinking about winter visitors to Eskmeals.
It has long been a disappointment, that in ringing 1194 Blackcaps since 1988, our group have never had a control at Eskmeals.  I have investigated, using IPMR, and found that if you regard the beginning of November through to the end of  February as winter, then we have had birds returning consecutive winters on 8 occasions. This is with only 44 other re-traps, summers and same winters. There have been no occurrences of a summer bird being re-trapped in this winter period.  This, I believe, shows how important this west coast Sea-buckthorn site is for Blackcaps.
It is not a site for other over wintering warblers with only 2 Chiffchaffs out of 658 and 1 Willow Warbler out of 3497 caught in what I would call deep mid-winter.

Marsh Tit Bycatch

Present RG, CG and KH.               Roudsea  08/02/2012

We were hoping to colour ring some Marsh Tits with no success at all . The usual suspects were caught in the usual numbers. Then our day suddenly brightened. Three Haw Finches a fourteen year gap since the last one. The first picture shows the relaxed ringers grip.  The second shows how to prevent being nipped.  You have to keep the index finger gently under the birds chin. You can see on the second photograph and I can still feel the pliers like nip that you will get if this procedure is not used. 

Interesting Blaca

Present KH, LH, AM, RG and JS.       Eskmeals  28/01/2012

Perfect ringing conditions and, as a fortnight ago, a slow start but a good final total.  The Bullfinch obviously roost away from our net sites, as we are there two hours before they honour us with their presence.  On our last visit to this site the blog was entitled "Bullfinch Bonanza", today we had  twice as many new birds and went well past the 100 colour ringed. 

A total of 142  birds was processed of 16 species, re-traps shown in brackets. They were as follows: Wren 1(1), Dunnock (4), Robin 5(6), Blackbird 8(3), Fieldfare 3, Song Thrush 4, Redwing 2, Blackcap 6(2), Goldcrest 2(1), Long-tailed Tit 4(4), Coal Tit 3(7), Blue Tit 5(17), Great Tit 3(5), Treecreeper 1(1), Chaffinch 3(2), Bullfinch 34(5).     

Blackcaps always remind me of little boys whose mothers cut their hair with the use of a pudding bowl.  The bird below looks like his mum has given him some highlights

Bullfinch Bonanza

Present : JS, AM, RG, LH, KH.                                                  Eskmeals  14/01/2012

Although we knew we were close to processing a 100 birds the cold wind got into old bones. Too cold to do a count we finished and found out later we were 1 short of the ton.  

Ninety-nine birds of  sixteen species were processed.They were as follows with re-traps shown in brackets; Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 1(1), Dunnock 2, Robin 4(4), Blackbird 7(2), Fieldfare 7, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 4, Blackcap 5, Coal Tit 3(1), Blue Tit 3(17), Great Tit 2, Treecreeper 1, Chaffinch 5(1), Greenfinch 1, Bullfinch 17(7).

Below are three photographs of some interest taken on the day.

Song Thrush Replacing Lost Feathers

Notice How Sunlight changes Eyes

Blackbird Twisted and Crossed Bill

Black Highlight and Colour Ringed Twite

NOVEMBER SO FAR

This November there has been three ringing sessions at Eskmeals one at Askam and one in Roudsea Wood.  Active KH, AM, RG. JS and CG.

A total of 355 birds processed of 23 species. 

They were as follows,(re-traps).  Sparrowhawk (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker 1(1), Wren 9(2), Dunnock 11(2), Robin 16(10), Blackbird 24(4), Fieldfare 6, Song Thrush 16(1), Redwing 2, Blackcap 14, Goldcrest 10(1), Long-tailed Tit 3(4), Marsh Tit 3(2), Coal Tit 19(11), Blue Tit 38(11), Gret Tit 11(7), Nuthatch 2, Treecreeper 1(2), Carrion Crow 1, Chaffinch 5(1), Greenfinch 3, Bullfinch 58(16), Twite 19(7).

TWITE

The Twite catching season kicked off with a catch of 26 birds and some interesting colour ring re-sightings.  Three Heysham (Morecambe) ringed birds.  Two Mull of Kintire and one Isle of Man ringed bird.

RINGED PLOVER

The  details of a controlled Ring Plover with a Belgian ring were received this month.

Ringed as a 5 in January 2002 in Senegal (for those with poor geography skills see location indicator at the bottom of the page). It was controlled at Priory Point (Morecambe Bay) May 2010.  4650 kilometres and 15 degrees NNE. 

CARRION CROW

The team could not  remember when if at all we had caught a Carrion Crow in a mist net.  All were presently surprised at how easily the bird was to handle.   

Marsh Tit R.A.S. in Roudsea Wood

Present KH, RG and CG.

The group has decided to continue the work that Jim Fowler had been doing over the last 6 years on  a Marsh Tit RAS in Roudsea Woods (to see location see link below).  We colour ringed 3 Marsh Tits and had the following bye-catch, re-traps in brackets.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren 1, Marsh Tit 3, Coal Tit 10(3), Blue Tit 10(2), Great Tit 10(2), Chaffinch 4, Greenfinch1.   

White Ring Being Placed Over Carmine - Marsh Tit.

Marsh Tit - Typical Ring Combinations

Bullfinch R.A.S. Kick-off

This last weekend the 15th and 16th of October different members were active on different days at Eskmeals.  JS,  MW,  RG, CG,  LH and KH.  123 birds of 15 species  were processed.  They were as follows, re-traps in brackets.   Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 3(1), Dunnock 4(2), Robin 3(1), Blackbird 10(1), Song Thrush 5, Blackcap 10, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 9, Long-tailed Tit 2(1), Coal Tit 7(6), Blue Tit 12(4), Great Tit 3(2), Chaffinch 7, Bullfinch 22(3). 

A tape lure was used successfully to increase Bullfinch numbers as the group is attempting a RAS.  The first colour combination used was Violet over Violet Left Leg with Violet over metal Right Leg The ring was placed on a  female so you can guess what she will be called, if we see her again. 

First Male Colour Ringed Bullfinch

September Ringing Totals and Colour Flagged Tunstone

The group totals for September were lower than average  due to the weather and holidays  They were as follows with retraps shown (**) : Wren 2, Dunnock 5(4), Robin 11(1), Blackbird 2(1), Song Thrush 1, Blackcap 5, Chiffchaff 8, Goldcrest 13, Long-tailed Tit (2), Coal Tit 3 (3), Blue Tit 11 (4), Great Tit 2 (2), Chaffinch 5, Greenfinch 2, Bullfinch 19 (1).

A Ruddy Turnstone was seen on 23/03/2011 at one of our ringing sites (Foulney Island) .  The white flag, it probably had another on its other leg, indicates it was ringed in Autumn 1994 at Nunavut, Ellesmere Island CANADA.  We saw another on Foulney in 2007 and I would strongly suggest that this is the same bird.

If you wish to see where Ellesmere Island is click on the location below the comments

Photograph  K Hindmarch

Photograph  K Hindmarch