Pallid and Common Swift Ringing - Spain May 2011

Present RG, CG, and KH.

A Spanish Ringer kindly took us to a building site in Algerciras.  Work on this part built block of flats in the middle of the town had come to a halt two or three years earlier.  We were soon catching swifts even before having fully positioned the first net. The birds more often than not were caught on the way out as they could not turn sharp enough to use the net free window in through which they had entered. It was decided to stop catching as soon as we re-trapped a bird caught that day.50 swifts were caught of which 43 were Pallid Swift. Full biometrics were taken and only one bird was found to be aged 5. The primaries of both species were extremely stiff  and unusually course to the touch. The Common Swifts were stronger and more difficult to handle, both species had extremely sharp claws  The experience was one not to be missed.   

Nets Up At Some Windows

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus

Pallid Swift

Pallid Swift Wing

Common Swift Wing

Successful - Ring Plover Catch - Walney. 19/05/2011

Present JS, AM, CG, RG, MW, KH and members of the Morecambe Bay Ringing Group.

The plan was to utilise the fact that Ring Plovers always roost higher up the beach than other waders.

94 Ring Plovers and 4 Dunlin were caught with one Ring Plover re-trap caught previously a few miles away almost one year to the day. The Dunlin were all of the schinzii race. Full biometrics were taken and the Ring Plovers all were within the range of the British group but due to overlap in the wing size range some could be from Greenland or N.Scand/USSR.  Only one was identified as aged 5 and its biometrics, wing and weight helped confirm it as a juvenile . It had the smallest wing and weighed less than any of the other 94.  

Just After The  Cannons Fired

Jack Does A Quick Stock Take

Male Ring Plover

Jim Fowler

It is with great sadness that I publish this post. Dr.J.A.Fowler died of a heart attack whilst canoeing last week on Coniston Water. I will publish a list of the birds seen  and some photographs of his recent trip to Australia in the next few days.The following link is a touching tribute to Jim . http://dailybitsnbobs.blogspot.com/

Pair of Goldcrest Return to Eskmeals 16/04/2011

Present RG, CG, AM, JS and KH.
On imputing two re-trap Goldcrests into IPMR I noticed that this male and female had been caught together approximately 12 months earlier. A pair of Pied Wagtails were an unusual catch for this site, being only the third and fourth caught in 23 years. The photograph below illustrates how they started a debate.  Motacilla alba or yarrellii.  Close examination on site and then of photos taken and the use of reference books confirmed that both were yarrellii.

Bird on Right Lighter than Photograph Shows 

 A total of 66 birds processed 22 of which were re-traps.  They were as follows,(re-traps): Pied Wagtail 2, Wren 4(1), Dunnock 3(2), Robin 3(5), Blackbird 1(2), Song Thrush 1, Blackcap 5(1), Chiffchaff 3(5), Willow Warbler 3, Goldcrest (2), Coal Tit 1(1), Blue Tit 2, Chafffinch 4, Lesser Redpoll 2(1), Bullfinch 10 (2).   

Redstart and Returning Migrants 09/04/2011

Present: RG; CG; AM; KH  and JS.
A total of 45 birds of 11 species were processed of which 9 were (re-traps). They were as follows. Wren (1), Redstart 1, Blackbird (1), Blackcap 3(0), Chiffchaff 8(1), Willow warbler 5(1), Long-tailed-Tit 1(1), Coal Tit (1), Chaffinch 5, Lesser Redpoll 2, Bullfinch 9(3). The highlight was a male Redstart.  This was unfortunately only seen by myself as I was working some distance from the others and the birds welfare comes first.  It was the first I had handled in the spring and I could not believe the amount of feather abrasion.. A photograph is included for the benefit of the others in the group.  The two returning warblers were of no significant age. 

Can Anyone Age This?  

Feathers Stuck Together by Nectar.

Blues at Hay Bridge 19/03/2011

Present KH, RG and CG

After 101 Siskins we returned to the same site 10 days later and complete silence.  The noise from the flock had been remarkable. 96 birds were processed of 12 species (re-traps).Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Dunnock 1, Robin 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Marsh Tit (1), Coal Tit 4 (2), Blue Tit 34 (13), Great Tit 8 (5), Nuthatch1, Chaffinch 12, Goldfinch7, Siskin 3. The only thing of note was an adult male Chaffinch with a wing of 93mm and the sorry state of the Blue Tit shown below.

 

Is this Feather Mite?

Some Degradation 

This Wing Okay

101 Siskins Ringed 09/03/2011

Present JS , KH, RG and CG

A not at all promising day turned out to be the opposite. Strong West Winds with rain almost led to the cancelling of the day at Hay Bridge.  It was only the horrible forecast for the rest of the week that decided us to have a go. We took with us some drop traps as insurance against the high winds   The birds processed were as follows, (re-traps). Robin 0 (1), Blackbird 0 (1), Long-tailed Tit 1 (1), Blue Tit 18 (3), Great Tit 2, Treecreeper 1, Chaffinch 13, Goldfinch 11, Siskin 101 (3), Lesser Redpoll 9 (2). We had two controls a Siskin and the last bird of the day a Lesser Redpoll. 

Chardonnerets -  Taken, used successfully at the start. 

One of the One Hundred and One

Too Busy to Pose

Roudsea 7 March 2011

Present: JAF, CG, RG.

64 birds processed, 20 new (additional retraps in brackets): Marsh Tit (4); Coal Tit 3 (+2); Blue Tit 8 (+18); Great Tit 8 (+19); Nuthatch 1; Chaffinch (1).

Ros and Colin extract from a mist net set in coppiced hazel scrub

Rassing Day 2

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR, 2 March 2011
Present: JAF, KW, PM
A quieter day, 47 birds processed, 17 new (additional retraps in brackets): Marsh Tit (4); Coal Tit 1 (+1); Blue Tit 13 (+17); Great Tit 2 (+7); Nuthatch (1); Chaffinch 1.

 Pam records while Kim processes a Nuthatch

Let the Rassing commence!

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR, 1 March 2011, Present JAF

A good start on the first day of the Marsh Tit RAS season with one new bird and 18 retraps/re-sightings.

A total of 116 birds processed, 39 new (additional retraps in brackets): Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (+3); Marsh Tit 1 (+18); Coal Tit 2 (+2); Blue Tit 20 (+21); Great Tit 10 (+33); Nuthatch 4; Chaffinch 1.

Roudsea Woods and Mosses NNR on a spring morning

 The first Marsh Tit of the 2011 R.A.S season

And what better way to kick-off the RAS season than with a fry-up on the trangia!

February's Totals Eskmeals and Rusland Valley 27/02/2011

Present KH, RG, CG and JS (part time)
The Winter Thrushes have moved away and ringing will be slow for the next month unless the weather take a turn for the worst. The month totals are as follows, re-traps in brackets.
Wren (1), Dunnock (2), Robin 2 (3), Blackbird 1 (1), Fieldfare 2, Blackcap 4, Long-tailed Tit (1), Coal Tit 4 (5), Blue Tit 69 (15), Great Tit 38 (5), Chaffinch 10, Goldfinch 6 (1), Siskin 22 (1), Lesser Redpoll 20,Bullfinch (1).
The two things of note in the month were our preparation for our Spain ringing trip and our encounters with Kite Surfers when trying for Rock Pipits.

Ros Practises Taking Biometrics Ready For Spain

They who harass geese shall be harassed (eco warrior) 

Spring arrives at Roudsesa

26 February 2011. Present: JAF.

At last some spring sunshine and reasonable temperatures. Mainly maintenance (repairing and topping up feeders ready for the start of the RAS season next week), but a few birds caught (additional retraps/resightings in brackets): Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (+1); Blue Tit 3 (+6); Great Tit (3); Marsh Tit 1 (+5).

The warmer weather brought out these little fellows 

making their way to spawning sites