GRESPO with Brown on Wings 23/03/2010

Present KH

After some hard conservation work a little light ringing was the order of the day. The following were the birds ringed(re-traps). Marsh Tit 1: Great Tit 9(3); Coal Tit 4; Blue Tit 5; Robin 1; Nuthatch 1; Great Spotted Woodpecker (1).

First ringed as a 6 Female 13/01/2009. The brown was not noticed then!

Roudsea Woods - Rassing 7 March 2010

Present: JAF, JH

A good start with four Marsh Tits until bright sunshine reached the net and curtailed further catching.

18 birds processed, 8 new, 10 local retraps (retraps in brackets):

Marsh Tit 1 (3); Coal Tit 2 (0); Blue Tit 5 (3); Great Tit 0 (4).

Jenny sits on the log and processes a Blue Tit

Roudsea Woods - Rassing Update 3-5 March 2010

Present: JAF, KH, KW

Visits to Roudsea on three consecutive days, processed 117 birds of which 36 new and 81 local retraps (retraps in brackets):

Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 (2); Robin 2 (0); Blackbird 2 (0); Marsh Tit 1 (21); Coal Tit 3 (5); Blue Tit 19 (28); Great Tit 7 (23); Nuthatch 0 (2); Chaffinch 1 (0).

By 5th March, we have accounted already for 42 Marsh Tits, 17 recaptures (or re-sightings) from previous RAS seasons, and 25 "new entries" into the RAS population.

Kim processes a Blackbird at Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR

High Tides Bring Pipits 02/03/2010

Present JS and KH

The highest tides of the year provide opportunities to meet old friends. Whilst waiting to confirm yet another winter visit from our Scandinavian Rock Pipit, caught previously with a Norwegian ring, we took the opportunity to place some single shelf nets and a whoosh net just above the high tide. Since catching the bird and using blown up images of the ring when we were unable to catch, the bird has developed its own recognisable "GISS ". This is the fifth winter and so far we have not had any luck, but have caught Water and Rock Pipit. See photographs below.

Water Pipit Wing

Rock Pipit Tail

Water Pipit Tail

Rock Pipit

Water Pipit

March 1st - Rassing commences at Roudsea

Present: JAF and KW.

Today was the first official day of our Marsh Tit "RAS Season". We got off to a flying start with 10 Marsh Tits processed and an additional dozen field observations of colour-ringed birds.

37 birds of six species were processed, 9 new and 28 local retraps (retraps in brackets):

Marsh Tit 1 (9); Coal Tit 2 (3); Blue Tit 5 (10); Great Tit 0 (5); Jay 1 (0); Chaffinch 0 (1).

By Ancient Custom and Practice, the first day of the RAS Season is marked by a cooked breakfast.
Kim attends to the bacon sizzling in the Trangia in the field kitchen.

Kim seems pleased with her first Jay.
I believe she went home with all ten fingers intact.

The Jay was processed as an adult male