And so the breeding season begins... We have a great working relationship with our sister group, North Notts Ringing Group, and we help each other out when we can. And so it was today when we ringed two Raven pulli at a regular site of theirs. It is quite a team effort and many thanks to Andy, Adam and Will for their help. Ravens are typically very early breeders and a rough calculation suggests that this pair laid eggs in mid-February. These two were also fitted with yellow colour-rings and we would love to hear of any sightings in the future.
Friday 30 March 2018
Wigeon
Last winter I began trying to target ducks, particularly Wigeon as it is a BTO priority species, at a site in Shelford.
It’s been very disappointing with very little success, but of the two Wigeon ringed last winter, I have retrapped one of them this winter. This gives an indication of site fidelity (and longevity I guess) but it was also a great opportunity to compare plumage, though male Wigeon are probably one of the easiest ducks to age on plumage.
FS03176 was ringed in February 2017 and aged and sexed as a first winter male. This bird was retrapped in December 2017 and so is obviously in its second winter. The pictures below show some of the plumage differences.
I had been inspired by an article in the Lifecycle magazine about catching ducks in a static trap with a funnel entrance. I had hoped it would be more of a success allowing other group members to attend, but it’s still a work in progress! My totals over two winters are Mallard 9 (3), Wigeon 4 (1), Moorhen 3.
Mick P
It’s been very disappointing with very little success, but of the two Wigeon ringed last winter, I have retrapped one of them this winter. This gives an indication of site fidelity (and longevity I guess) but it was also a great opportunity to compare plumage, though male Wigeon are probably one of the easiest ducks to age on plumage.
FS03176 was ringed in February 2017 and aged and sexed as a first winter male. This bird was retrapped in December 2017 and so is obviously in its second winter. The pictures below show some of the plumage differences.
I had been inspired by an article in the Lifecycle magazine about catching ducks in a static trap with a funnel entrance. I had hoped it would be more of a success allowing other group members to attend, but it’s still a work in progress! My totals over two winters are Mallard 9 (3), Wigeon 4 (1), Moorhen 3.
Mick P
Saturday 24 March 2018
Sibthorpe, Saturday 24 March
Despite the very mixed forecast, conditions turned out to be quite manageable for some netting in Jim's garden this morning. Thanks to some tactical preparation the previous evening, nets were unfurled and open soon after first light and the birds started arriving at the feeders straight away.
At this transitional point in the calendar it was interesting to catch some birds coming into breeding condition with several CPs and some developing brood patches (e.g. Dunnocks), whilst others had significant fat deposits and were clearly preparing for migration (e.g. Chaffinch and Blackbird).
Jim had also put up a couple of feeders and nets in a neighbouring garden which was a good, sheltered spot and with the help of a sound lure we caught a few Greenfinches there. Pleased with this, we also reminisced about the days when Greenfinches were your bread-and-butter birds in the garden and hundreds could be processed fairly easily.
In total, we processed 31 birds (21 new/10 retrap), comprising: Great Tit 1/1, Chaffinch 2/0, Blackbird 1/1, Song Thrush 1/0, House Sparrow 2/5, Robin 2/0, Goldfinch 3/0, Dunnock 1/1, Greenfinch 6/1, Starling 2/0, Tree Sparrow 1/0.
The Tree Sparrow was the first to be ringed in the garden since some juvenile birds trapped in June 2016.
Pete
At this transitional point in the calendar it was interesting to catch some birds coming into breeding condition with several CPs and some developing brood patches (e.g. Dunnocks), whilst others had significant fat deposits and were clearly preparing for migration (e.g. Chaffinch and Blackbird).
Jim had also put up a couple of feeders and nets in a neighbouring garden which was a good, sheltered spot and with the help of a sound lure we caught a few Greenfinches there. Pleased with this, we also reminisced about the days when Greenfinches were your bread-and-butter birds in the garden and hundreds could be processed fairly easily.
In total, we processed 31 birds (21 new/10 retrap), comprising: Great Tit 1/1, Chaffinch 2/0, Blackbird 1/1, Song Thrush 1/0, House Sparrow 2/5, Robin 2/0, Goldfinch 3/0, Dunnock 1/1, Greenfinch 6/1, Starling 2/0, Tree Sparrow 1/0.
The Tree Sparrow was the first to be ringed in the garden since some juvenile birds trapped in June 2016.
Pete
Starling and Tree Sparrow (PML)
Thursday 22 March 2018
Brackenhurst student demonstrations . . .
. . . no, not over lecturers’ pension rights, but bird ringing demonstrations for the students at NTU, Brackenhurst. Many of them use the Yellowhammer data we collect in their statistics lessons, and the demos allow students to see them in the hand as well as learning about the aims of the Ringing Scheme.
Wednesday 14 March
Despite the blowy south-easterlies, Kev, Louise and myself netted 61 birds. Conveniently, they came in a steady flow through the morning, and our three groups all got to see birds in the hand and release birds. Thirty-eight of our total were our target species, Yellowhammer. The eldest ringed bird was 4 years old. We also ringed nine Reed Buntings.
Species totals: 59 birds (45 new/14 retrap): Robin 1/0, Blackbird 1/1, Blue Tit 0/1, Great Tit 2/1, Goldfinch 2/0, Chaffinch 2/1, Yellowhammer 28/10, Reed Bunting 9/0.
Wednesday 21 March
Colder and calmer initially, then breezy from the west. I thought we would catch more birds than last week, but Gary, Kev, Kirsten, Max Collins and I only managed 36 birds. However, there were fewer students this time and it was enough for them. Yellowhammer (20) and Reed Bunting (6) again dominated the catch. It's been our best winter for ringing Reed Buntings. Not sure why, but perhaps the colder winter and seed mix have both played a part. A nice surprise was to ring a Brambling; only our fourth at the site. The oldest birds were a Robin and a Yellowhammer, both from 2014.
Species totals: 36 birds (18 new/16 retrap): Robin 0/1, Dunnock 1/0, Blackbird 1/0, Great Tit 1/1, Goldfinch 2/0, Chaffinch 1/1, Brambling 1/0, Yellowhammer 8/12, Reed Bunting 3/3.
Jim Lennon
Wednesday 14 March
Despite the blowy south-easterlies, Kev, Louise and myself netted 61 birds. Conveniently, they came in a steady flow through the morning, and our three groups all got to see birds in the hand and release birds. Thirty-eight of our total were our target species, Yellowhammer. The eldest ringed bird was 4 years old. We also ringed nine Reed Buntings.
Species totals: 59 birds (45 new/14 retrap): Robin 1/0, Blackbird 1/1, Blue Tit 0/1, Great Tit 2/1, Goldfinch 2/0, Chaffinch 2/1, Yellowhammer 28/10, Reed Bunting 9/0.
Wednesday 21 March
Colder and calmer initially, then breezy from the west. I thought we would catch more birds than last week, but Gary, Kev, Kirsten, Max Collins and I only managed 36 birds. However, there were fewer students this time and it was enough for them. Yellowhammer (20) and Reed Bunting (6) again dominated the catch. It's been our best winter for ringing Reed Buntings. Not sure why, but perhaps the colder winter and seed mix have both played a part. A nice surprise was to ring a Brambling; only our fourth at the site. The oldest birds were a Robin and a Yellowhammer, both from 2014.
Species totals: 36 birds (18 new/16 retrap): Robin 0/1, Dunnock 1/0, Blackbird 1/0, Great Tit 1/1, Goldfinch 2/0, Chaffinch 1/1, Brambling 1/0, Yellowhammer 8/12, Reed Bunting 3/3.
Jim Lennon
Brambling and student group at ringing station
Monday 5 March 2018
Sibthorpe, Sunday 4 March
Tom and I dropped by Jim and Elaine's house on Sunday just as the snow began melting and the birds began singing. We spent a pleasant 3 or 4 hours netting at the feeders in the garden and we found most individuals in rude health, despite the cold snap.
We processed 41 birds (24 new/17 retrap) comprising: House Sparrow 13/9, Robin 1/0, Greenfinch 1/0, Great Tit 1/1, Goldfinch 5/0, Chaffinch 1/0, Blue Tit 0/3, Dunnock 1/3, Fieldfare 1/0, Reed Bunting 1/0.
Pete
We processed 41 birds (24 new/17 retrap) comprising: House Sparrow 13/9, Robin 1/0, Greenfinch 1/0, Great Tit 1/1, Goldfinch 5/0, Chaffinch 1/0, Blue Tit 0/3, Dunnock 1/3, Fieldfare 1/0, Reed Bunting 1/0.
Pete
adult female Fieldfare (PML)
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