I've covered about 40% of my boxes so far and have a occupancy rate of about 50%. However, having checked the 'best' boxes first, I am expecting that to fall. Half the birds are still on eggs and only one brood big enough to ring. I also retrapped a female ringed in same wood as an adult 7 years ago.
Kev
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
More on Tawny Owls
Mick P and Ian joined me on the final few first round Tawny Box checks last night and although it was mainly squirrels and Jackdaws, we did find a single chick in one box. Occupancy rate about 20-25% at present.
Pete
Pete
Herons with NNRG
Mick P and I had a very pleasant day ringing herons at Besthorpe with North Notts Ringing Group today.
Gary
Gary
Blue Stork
I've seen many birds marked with coloured dye before - anyone know if this bird is from such a project?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8643375.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8643375.stm
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Harby sightings
More House Martins seem to have moved in today and all common 8 warblers are singing. Best migrant of the morning though was a White Wagtail. Two Grass Snakes last week as well.
Pete
Pete
Holme Pierrepont, Sat 24 April
A last minute trip to HPP produced 22 birds including 4 Whitethroats, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and the first Green Woodpecker for a little while. We knew after last week that it wouldn't be long...
Gary
Gary
Owl boxes
I'm about two thirds of the way through checking my Tawny Owl boxes now and with the weather as it has been it has been pure pleasure. About 25% of them contain females sitting on eggs and as usual the rest are a random array of Stock Doves, Jackdaws and squirrels. Sitting females we leave well alone, so who knows how many eggs are involved, although one particularly feisty mother was making such a fuss we took her out and Duncan's first encounter with an adult Tawny will live forever in the scar tissue on his hands... Fortunately, she went back down quietly and quickly on her nest after we'd processed her.
On Saturday, Meisha and Ruth came out to help and got a good dose of electric fences, barbed wire, ravenous sheep, growling squirrels and bumpy (not to mention steep) off-road driving. Who needs a Landrover... But it was another gorgeous day and there were butterflies and migrant birds everywhere. As well as the Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers that have been around for some time, we found Whitethroats all over the place and the odd Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. Yellow Wagtails and Swallows were also regular as well as the odd House Martin.
There were birds to ring too and Ruth and Meisha were both pleased with their first Stock Doves. Aren't they gorgeous?
Pete
On Saturday, Meisha and Ruth came out to help and got a good dose of electric fences, barbed wire, ravenous sheep, growling squirrels and bumpy (not to mention steep) off-road driving. Who needs a Landrover... But it was another gorgeous day and there were butterflies and migrant birds everywhere. As well as the Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers that have been around for some time, we found Whitethroats all over the place and the odd Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. Yellow Wagtails and Swallows were also regular as well as the odd House Martin. There were birds to ring too and Ruth and Meisha were both pleased with their first Stock Doves. Aren't they gorgeous?
Pete
Israel, April 2010
Kev, Chris and I had yet another great week in Israel. We all overdosed a little on Reed Warblers as there were thousands to catch if we had wanted. But as usual we did our own thing with good results and despite the actions of a certain volcano we made it back on time.
Gary
Gary
European Bee-eater
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Common Buzzard
Wood Warbler
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Holme Pierrepont, Sat 17 April
It was another warm, quiet and fairly short session at HPP. The migrants are dribbling in, but far fewer phylloscs around this week. Perhaps their flights have been cancelled because of the ash... And no hirundines, raptors or waders overhead despite (or perhaps because of) the beautiful clear blue sky, free of vapour trails.
We caught 21 birds, the same as last week. The highlight was in the first round, the season's first Reed Warbler carrying an R613 ring. Look forward to finding out how old that is.We wondered whether it might have even been older than Archie.
Quite a few Blackcaps were singing and the first females were in evidence, including 2 of the 3 we caught. Note the moult limit in the male's wing that indicates that it was born last year. The outermost greater covert, carpal covert and possibly largest alula feather are all browner juvenile feathers.
Reed Buntings seemed to be everywhere and we caught several, though they remain a headache to age. For reference, this is a known adult female's tail. These can look surprisingly narrow, but not quite as abraded as the young birds.
Lastly, a Green Woodpecker was very nearly the catch of the day. Maybe next time...
Pete
We caught 21 birds, the same as last week. The highlight was in the first round, the season's first Reed Warbler carrying an R613 ring. Look forward to finding out how old that is.We wondered whether it might have even been older than Archie.
Pete
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)