Eskmeals 9/10/2010 & 10/10/2010

Present AM, JS, CG, RG.
A total of 149 birds of 15 species were processed of which (22) were re-traps.  They were as follows: Wren 6. Dunnock  2(2), Robin  20(5), Blackbird 12(2), Song Thrush  5, Blackcap  4, Chiffchaff  4, Golcrest 4, Lotti 7 (3), Coal Tit 2, Blue Tit 23(4), Great Tit 7(1), Treecreeper  4, Chaffinch 12, Bullfinch  15(2).

Kirksanton 12/10/2010 & 14/10/2010

Present AM, RG, CG, and JS, KH (part time)

Over the two days 70 birds were caught with (13) re-traps.  They were as follows: Wren 5(1), Goldcrest 3(1), Treecreeper 1, Blackbird 9(4), Grespo 2, Song Thrush 1, Robin 5(3), Reed Bunting 3(1), Redpoll 4, Dunnock 1, Bullfinch1(1), Chaffiinch 1, Blue Tit 8(2), Linnet 4, Coal Tit 2, Lotti 6, Song Thrush 1.  

Too busy to admire the view

Just a nice shot

Net Clips ( Patent Pending )

There are many different systems on all the ways we catch, and each ringer has his own personal techniques and some ringers are constantly trying to improve on perfection. So here is yet another one born out of frustration with tangled nets. The photos. below are of clips used to re-seal plastic bags. They are of minimal cost but get the ones with a mechanical hinge not the ones that clip together by bending at the end as they will eventually break.  When held this way the net loops will not feed through each other.  When taking down a net the clip is held in the up position at all times. This will ensure that you will not have to take twists out of the net length when next putting up the net.  The net can't  twist along its length as it is put into the bag.   

The two ends of a net firmly clipped ready for bagging

The clip in positioned whilst the net is still on the pole

Inner edges cut away to allow for the North Ron. net loops extra thickness

These clips can be used as an aid when furling, to hold the furled net together along the length.  If used in this way care must be taken to ensure the net will not part open by use of the appropriate number of clips.

THIS WAS A COLIN AND KEN CO-PRODUCTION

Ken's Garden First

Present KH.

Two firsts were achieved today .  Twenty birds in a day and a Tree Sparrow.  The birds were as follows; 7 House Sparrows, 1 Tree Sparrow, 7 Blue Tits, 4 Coal Tits, 1 Dunnock.  There were no re-traps

I have never seen one in my garden in 35 years

Roudsea 10 October 2010

Present: KW, JAF
55 birds processed, 46 new (retraps in brackets): Wren 2; Robin (1); Goldcrest 1; Marsh Tit 5 (+1); Coal Tit 7 (+2); Blue Tit 21 (+4); Great Tit 9 (+1); Treecreeper 1.

Kim extended her training experience with her first Goldcrest.

Wreaks Moss 9 October 2010

Present: JAF
A short maintenance visit, 20 birds captured, 19 new (retrap in brackets):
Coal Tit 3 (+1); Blue Tit 11; Great Tit 2; Treecreeper 1; Chaffinch 2.

Redpolls at Roudsea, 7th October 2010

Present: JAF
A nice Autumn day at Roudsea Woods and Mosses, specifically to target Redpolls with tape lures.
A successful morning with 84 Redpolls captured (including 1 control) among a total of 92 birds (retraps in brackets):
Dunnock 1; Robin (1); Goldcrest 2; Blue Tit (1); Siskin 1; Redpoll 79 (+4+1); Reed Bunting 3.

Adult male Redpoll

First winter Redpoll showing clear moult limit in secondary covert tract

Next Ness - Kingfisher saves the day

4 October 2010, Present: JAF
A disappointing 15 birds processed (10 new) probably because of feeders being filled in local gardens: (retraps in brackets).
Kingfisher 1; Coal Tit 1; Blue Tit 3 (+3); Great Tit 1 (+2); Treecreeper 1; Chaffinch 3.

Kingfisher at Next Ness

Roudsea 2 October 2010

Present: JAF
94 birds processed, of which 82 new (retraps in brackets):
Meadow Pipit 2; Wren 0 (1); Robin 4; Goldcrest 1; Marsh Tit 1 (2); Coal Tit 10 (5); Blue Tit 9 (1); Great Tit 10 (3); Nuthatch 2; Chaffinch 5; Redpoll 34; Reed Bunting 4.

First-winter Robin showing clear moult limit in secondary coverts

Male Reed Bunting

Reed Bunting tail feathers

Kirksanton

28 September 2010

Present: AM, JS, KH, CG, RG, and JAF.

The site is a new one for the 01229 Group, a stubblefield which had been used recently by flocks of finches and buntings. We decided to give it a try. It was a successful morning with 40 new birds representing 14 species:

Meadow Pipit 2; Wren 2; Dunnock 5; Robin 3; Blackbird 1; Song thrush 2; Whitethroat 1; Chiffchaff 1; Coal Tit 1; Great Tit 1; Tree Sparrow 7; Chaffinch 1; Yellowhammer 8; Reed Bunting 5.

Kirksanton lies on the coast north from Millom and South from Silecroft.

 200 feet of single shelf net across the stubble field did catch some birds 

but most were caught near the hedges around the edge of the field

 Ken, Colin and Rosalyn looking busy

 

 This Yellowhammer was one of 8 ringed

 

A smart looking Tree Sparrow

Roslyn extends her training experience with a Tree Sparrow

101 Scored at Eskmeals September Visit.

Present; AM, JS, CG, RG, and KH.
Although bright and sunny 101 birds caught . Ninety new birds and eleven (retraps). The 14 species were as follows: Wren 2, Dunnock 9, Robin 14(4) , Blackbird 2(1) , Blackcap 1(1) , Chiffchaff 1 , Goldcrest 2(1) , Long-tailed Tit (9) , Coal Tit 3(2) . Blue Tit 15(1) , Great Tit 8 , Chaffinch 7 , Greenfinch 5 , Bullfinch 12(1)

Ringer and Bird, Colour Co-ordinated.

Juvenile Goldcrest  5.8 Grammes (he will be a big help to his mum when he grows up.)

Next Ness 3 September 2010

Present: JAF
42 birds processed, 34 new. This brings the total birds ringed at this site in the last two visits to 101.

Birds processed (retraps in brackets): Dunnock (1); Blackcap1; Chiffchaff 3; Blue Tit 20 + (3); Great Tit 3 + (2); Treecreeper 1 + (1); Chaffinch 3 + (1); Bullfinch 3.

Juvenile male Bullfinch undergoing partial post-juvenile moult

The path through the Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve at Next Ness 

runs parallel to the railway line (on the left) and looks overgrown at this time of year.