Waders at Priory Point (Morecambe Bay)

Present JS, AM, RG, CG and KH date 28/05/2010

A last minute assembly was called by the Master of Arms as an opportunity to catch some late migrant waders presented itself.

A mixed flock of these had been located

One Hundred and Thirty -eight of these were caught and processed. One of which was a re-trap from the same beach two years earlier. Another was a BTO control along with a control with a Belgium ring.

Sixty - three of these were processed.One control was made which had a French ring.

All these photographs were taken on the actual beach where the birds were caught prior to the tide pushing them up to the shingle area higher up the beach.

Eskmeals May Totals

Present; AM, JS, RG, CG and KH.

A  total of 103 birds were processed. The following are the species ringed with (retraps).  Wren 5(3). Dunnock 4(6), Robin 5(4), Blackbird 6(1), Song Thrush 2, Lesser Whitethroat 7(2), Whitethroat 2. Blackcap 12(2), Chiffchaff 1(3), Willow Warbler 12(5), Goldcrest 2(1), Long-tailed Tit (1), Blue Tit (1), Great Tit 1(2) Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch2, Redpoll 2, Bullfinch 2(1)
The photograph below shows what else can be seen at Eskmeals and was the reward for some ride clearance work.  Cumbria is on its Northern edge with only one record for Scotland

EYED HAWKMOTH

Two Saturdays in May

Present J.S. : A.M. ; C.G. ; R.G. and K.H. The following birds were processed,(retraps) on two typical  Saturdays in May. Wren 4(3), Dunnock 2(4), Robin 4(2), Blackbird 2, Lesser Whitethroat 5(2), Blackcap 8(2), Chiffchaff 1(3), Willow Warbler 10(5), Goldcrest 2(1), Coal Tit 2(1), Blue Tit  (1), Great Tit1(2), Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 2, Redpoll 2, Bullfinch 1. The two retrapped  Lesser Whitethroats were returning birds ,but the two retrapped  Blackcaps had been caught earlier in this year

Wood Warblers

Present KH and JS

The drier woods in South Cumbria are alive with Wood Warblers.  Below are two photographs which with other clues help identify this specie in the hand .

The second primary aligns with the fourth. Strong yellow eye stripe and white lower parts.

Foulney Returns

KH
I received today two ringing returns . Both were Oystercatchers ringed as pulli on Foulney last summer. A total of 10 were ringed and as we all know the first year of life is the critical one for survival. I assume they were found as part of a beach survey this winter looking for dead "Oinks". Last winter was one of the worst and I will be looking with interest to see how birds survived on the bay.

Roudsea 15.5.2010

Present: JAF, KW.
We had 2 x (3 x 60ft) nets in the scrub along quarry ride.
18 birds processed (retraps in brackets): Tree Pipit 2; Dunnock 1; Garden Warbler 3; Chiffchaff 1 (1); Willow Warbler 1 (1); Coal Tit 0 (1); Great Tit 1; Treecreeper 3; Redpoll 2; Bullfinch 1.

The 3 Treecreepers were our first 3Js of the year and caught together, evidently belonging to the same brood.

Kim  extends her ringing training experience with her first Tree Pipit

Next Ness 09.05.2010

Present: JAF, KW.
10 Birds processed (retraps in brackets) Garden Warbler 1; Robin 1; Blackbird 3; Wren 1 (1); Bullfinch 3.

The wet willow and alder carr of Next Ness, perhaps looking more like the Everglades. 

Map and more pictures of Next Ness here.

Kim extends her ringing training experience with her first Garden Warbler

Tawny Owl, Roudsea

May 5th 2010. Present: JAF, KH

Ken is about to release a Tawny Owl as he extends his ringing experience into the Strigidae

The first Acros at Roudsea

May 3rd 2010.
Present: JAF, KW.

15 birds processed (retraps in brackets):
 Song Thrush 1 (0); Sedge Warbler 3 (0); Reed Warbler 1 (2); Blue Tit 4 (2); Chaffinch 1 (0); Reed Buntng 0 (1).

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR has a fringe of Phragmites bed skirting the southern side, along the Leven Estuary which provides a habitat for a few pairs of Acrocephalus warblers, and offers a diversion from ringing tits at feeders.

Kim extends her ringing training experience* with her first Reed Bunting 

(also with Reed and Sedge warblers)

(*Note how we assiduously avoid using the expression "ringing tick"!)