Holme Pierrepont, Sunday 23 April

Alex, Sue, Gary and I made the second visit to the Grange end of Holme Pierrepont today. We were joined by Jake Bull who was interested to see some bird ringing. Decent weather, calm with occasional cloudy periods prevailed. Catching started slowly and continued that way all morning. We ended with a total of 23 birds including 11 retraps. The species totals were (new/retrap): Robin 1/3, Wren 1/1, Blackcap 4/0, Reed Warbler 4/0, Cetti’s Warbler 0/1, Willow Warbler 0/3, Dunnock 0/2, Reed Bunting 1/0, Great Tit 0/1, Magpie 1/0. The oldest retrap was a Robin from 2012, the oldest returning warbler retrap was a Willow Warbler from 2014. The main change from last Monday was the return of a few Reed Warblers and Whitethroat that started sing near the base part way through the morning.

Kev

Holme Pierrepont, Monday 17 April

Alex, Duncan, Tom, Gary and I made the first ringing visit to the Grange end of Holme Pierrepont today. An cool overcast morning with only a slight breeze and a bit of drizzle mid morning. Catching started well but soon dropped off. We ended with a total of 37 birds including 14 retraps. The species totals were (new/retrap): Song Thrush 1/0, Blackbird 2/0, Robin 2/1, Wren 3/0, Blackcap 2/2, Sedge Warbler 1/0, Cetti’s Warbler 1/0, Chiffchaff 1/1, Willow Warbler 4/2, Dunnock 1/1, Bullfinch 2/3, Reed Bunting 3/3, Long-tailed Tit 0/1. The oldest retrap was a Robin which was ringed in October 2012, the oldest returning warbler retrap was a Willow Warbler from 2015. Overhead were Buzzards, Sand Martins, a Swallow and a Common Tern. No other warbler species were heard or seen other than those caught.

Kev

 HPP net ride (K. Hemsley)

2015 report

Our report for 2015 is out! A little behind schedule, but better late than never. If you would like a copy, please email the address at the top of the 'Reports' page - see tab at the top.

Brackenhurst, Sunday 2 April

Last weekend Gary and I took down the feeders at Sutton Bonington after some poor catches, so this morning Duncan, Sue and I headed east and netted the Brackenhurst feeding site. The weather was good with a slight frost showing in Orwin's first thing, but the sun soon melted that. We had a good session that started fairly quietly, second round produced 0 birds but then picked up and just kept going, we were still catching well when we took down to leave. We ended on 53 birds in total including 12 retraps made up of (new/retrap): Wren 1/0, Chiffchaff 4/0, Blackcap 1/0, Blue Tit 0/1, Great Tit 1/0, Goldfinch 1/0, Chaffinch 2/3, Reed Bunting 1/1, Yellowhammer 30/7.

All the warblers, except for one Chiffchaff, were from Orwin's. All the other birds, apart from one Great Tit, were from the feeders. The oldest retrap was a Yellowhammer from 2014.

Kev