The Dark Room

Thursday 18 July 2019

Ringing totals

A quick update of the last few weeks ringing totals.

6th July

Out with PH 35 new birds ringed and 1 retrap. 12 Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 1 Cetti's Warbler being the highlights of the short morning session.

10th July  

We made our final visit to the Lea Valley area to check on the breeding Black-headed Gulls/Tern rafts. 5 Black-headed Gull pulli and 1 Common Tern was ringed before work.

Common Tern


13th July


On Saturday I helped out along with PH at Blue House Farm Essex for a ringing demo late afternoon for PR., showing the public some of the common birds that visit the feeders but and more importantly PR to talk about the Brent Geese project and the number of geese that visit the farm over the winter months.


17th July


A great before work session with PR, PH and Sunitha,. 87 new birds were ringed 3 Kingfisher, 5 Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and a good haul of Blackcaps being the highlights.


Sedge Warbler (code 4)





Adult Female Kingfisher

All images were taken with the Iphone.


Sunday 7 July 2019

Seville and Mertola

On the 16th June myself along with David Bradnum and Howard Vaughan flew out of Gatwick airport to Seville for 3.5 days of birding dawn till dusk. We started the trip at Laguna La Mejorada which is just south of Seville for Western Olivaceous Warbler and Rufous bush-Robin- which are very smart! Before heading over the border into Portugal where our base was in Mertola. We chose this site as it was close to another of our target species White-rumped Swift. With Spanish Imperial Eagle, Black-winged Kite, Red-necked Nightjar, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Eagle Owl, Rock Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Calandra Lark, honestly birds are everywhere in Portugal.

So for now, here are some images and hopefully when I do get more time I'll share some more info/images of a really good trip.......




White-rumped Swift



Red-rumped Swallow

 
 White Stork

 


Montagu's Harrier


Azure-winged Magpie


  
Night Heron


Crag Martin


Roller





Bee-eater



Cattle Egret


Greater Flamingo



Whiskered Tern



Rufous-scrub Robin 



Great Bustard


Spanish Sparrow


Iberian Grey Shrike



Griffon Vulture



Black-winged Stilt 



Black-eared Wheatear