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.

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

Up at the farm

Saturday morning up at the farm with Paul Roper, Max and Louise produced a good mix of birds before the strong sunshine stopped play. 2 Jackdaw were coloured ringed as part of a ongoing project  2 Rook, 2 GSW, Blackcaps, Greenfinches, Coal Tit, Goldfinch plus the usual Blue Tits and Great Tits gave us a varied session. 38 birds were processed in total.


All images below are taken with the Iphone.

Rook

GSW

Jackdaw 

Paul also ran the moth trap and good number were caught including 2 Privet Hawk moth below.

Sunday morning

Sunday morning I went out ringing with Paul Hawkins. 49 new birds and 8 retraps, our highest total for the site. It looks like a good breeding season as nearly all the birds were 3j (this years young). Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit, Long tailed Tit and Great Tit all seem to be doing well so far, but only 1 Sedge Warbler though and that was a retrap.

All images below are taken with the Iphone.

 Sedge Warbler

 Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

 

Kestrel and Barn Owl broods

On Sunday late afternoon under licence we ringed 5 Kestrel and 4 Barn Owl broods, which have been using the boxes put up in a very wildlife friendly farmers estate.

All images below were taken on the Cannon 1D MK3.

Barn Owl

 

Kestrel

 

After years of enjoying Kestrels and Barn Owls in the field, it was a real pleasure and experience, thanks Paul R.

Jackdaw pulli

 Saturday mornings ringing session with Paul Hawkins produced  2 Reed Warbler - our first of the season at our new site, Common Whitethroat, x2 Greenfinch, x2 Robin - both 3j and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats made up the numbers.

Monday 27th May

PH, Louise and myself went out with Paul Roper to colour ring a brood of young Jackdaw. Three gorgeous - see below image,were ringed and coloured ringed as part of a ongoing project.

Ringing chicks

Once again it's been a busy week as last Sunday I was with PH ringing Common, Lesser Whitetroats, Blackcaps, Great tit and a retrap  male Bullfinch that was ringed back in March.

16th May

Made a second visit to Netherhall with PRO, PH and some of the Southern colour ringing group to colour ring Little Egret chicks. 12 Little Egret and 2 bonus Grey Heron were ringed.

Some birds were to small to colour ring.

Little Egret with Me and my happy face.

Grey Heron, please pass on sightings of any colour ringed bird.

Saturday 18th May

Out with PRO, PH and DMo to ring some pullis waders sadly the numbers were very low due to a number of reasons, hopefully 2nd broods will have a better chance?

Ringed Plover above, just 2 were ringed and just 1 Lapwing!

Thanks again lads.......