Sunday 10 October 2010
A belated September report
Tuesday 7 September 2010
The first week in September
There is nothing like a gentle anti-cyclone for still mornings and a little mist - suddenly there are birds to catch and this week its been Blackcaps - 41 so far this September. Today there were clear signs of fattening up with weights of 23.4 and 24.8 - it is a surprise these heavyweights can get off the ground.
This year there has definitely been evidence that the allotment is a good site for feeding up for migration with both blackcaps and garden warblers hanging around for 2 or 3 days and getting heavier. This coupled with the elderberry/blackberry juice surprises that the blackcaps seem to enjoy landing on my shirt!
This year there has definitely been evidence that the allotment is a good site for feeding up for migration with both blackcaps and garden warblers hanging around for 2 or 3 days and getting heavier. This coupled with the elderberry/blackberry juice surprises that the blackcaps seem to enjoy landing on my shirt!
Friday 20 August 2010
Phew
This beauty was sitting looking at me from the bean frame as I entered the allotment and obligingly gently blundered into the net. After a little blood was shed, a small hole in a work shirt appeared, a large quantity of adrenalin released and lots of looking things up, a ring was placed on the leg and off went my first buzzard!
Friday 9 July 2010
June update
June
The day job interfered with the ringing and the total numbers suffered.
Overall blue and great tit pulli numbers were similar to last year but there is a bit more analysis is needed before a final judgement can be made.
One delightful evening did include ringing pulli of barn owl (2), little owl (2), kestrel (5) and stock dove (1).
Ringing swallow pulli continues and we are beginning to attempt to mist net some adults – but they are good at spotting nets!
Monday 31 May 2010
May
202 birds processed in May of 19 species - so far this year its 483 of 28 species.
32 nests have been visited and pulli rung, top of the list are blue and great tits, then swallow and pied wagtail followed by blackbird, stock dove and collard dove. Well done to Steve and his students who have sorted the tit nest boxes and done some sterling work on the college estate. Still watching robin, swallows and great tits.
The first robin juvenile this morning in the Martinstown mist nets was most welcome.
As was this handsome whitethroat
32 nests have been visited and pulli rung, top of the list are blue and great tits, then swallow and pied wagtail followed by blackbird, stock dove and collard dove. Well done to Steve and his students who have sorted the tit nest boxes and done some sterling work on the college estate. Still watching robin, swallows and great tits.
The first robin juvenile this morning in the Martinstown mist nets was most welcome.
As was this handsome whitethroat
Monday 24 May 2010
What another nest box post!
The first ringing week end at the College on Saturday with 11 nests of pulli rung.
Its early days with another 2 trips at least to get the full picture but we think the cold weather has had an effect on those birds who laid their eggs early. 4 blue tit boxes had 5.25 chicks rung , 6 great tit boxes had 3.3 average chicks rung.
A second set of pied wagtails pulli 5/5 were rung.
2 swallows nests and around 8 more boxes to be rung next weekend As there are definitely more caterpillars around this week than last the fingers crossed that the averages will improve.
Its early days with another 2 trips at least to get the full picture but we think the cold weather has had an effect on those birds who laid their eggs early. 4 blue tit boxes had 5.25 chicks rung , 6 great tit boxes had 3.3 average chicks rung.
A second set of pied wagtails pulli 5/5 were rung.
2 swallows nests and around 8 more boxes to be rung next weekend As there are definitely more caterpillars around this week than last the fingers crossed that the averages will improve.
Saturday 15 May 2010
Pulli so far ...
In general it feels that pulli ringing is a little later this year compared to last.
2 nests of pied wagtail done - pretty much as last year (3) but no colour rings available so they were not used this year. We are watching one less nest at the moment though (4).
At work we have also done a chaffinch (4 chicks), collard dove (2) and a stock dove (1). Really pleased to get the collared doves as last year we missed them numerous times - went from too small to too big in days!
In the garden the 3 early blackbird chicks have fledged and are still around, a new nest site has been found by Mum and Dad.
We have had robins and dunnocks predated or desert. The sadness of the loss of a nest full of kestrel chicks was tempered by the fact they were probably eaten by barn owls who had laid 2 eggs!
Tit boxes start next weekend which is definitely later,we started the College boxes on the 14 May last year.
2 nests of pied wagtail done - pretty much as last year (3) but no colour rings available so they were not used this year. We are watching one less nest at the moment though (4).
At work we have also done a chaffinch (4 chicks), collard dove (2) and a stock dove (1). Really pleased to get the collared doves as last year we missed them numerous times - went from too small to too big in days!
In the garden the 3 early blackbird chicks have fledged and are still around, a new nest site has been found by Mum and Dad.
We have had robins and dunnocks predated or desert. The sadness of the loss of a nest full of kestrel chicks was tempered by the fact they were probably eaten by barn owls who had laid 2 eggs!
Tit boxes start next weekend which is definitely later,we started the College boxes on the 14 May last year.
Sunday 9 May 2010
Returning migrants
I started ringing as a C ringer in May last year and now I am beginning to catch some of last years birds as they have returned. So far its been a couple of blackcaps - both males and 3 chiff chaffs. Exciting stuff!
The prize bird so far has been a swallow, first processed as a pulli at the College on the 24 May 2009 and then caught yesterday in the mist nets at the allotment in Martinstown. Its about 6 miles between the College and Martinstown but to go via South Africa is some journey. The swallows returned 2 or 3 days ago and we have been watching them hawk low over the dairy grazing fields as they feed up - not knowing one of them was a College bird establishing herself in Martinstown!
Friday 2 April 2010
March 2010
My March ringing data for March has just been sent off to my trainer Steve Hales. Another quiet month! 38 captures of 16 species.
Last weekend Neil Croton who rings west of DT2 controlled a November Great Tit. The Great Tit was visting the feeding station at Kingcombe where he was controlled by Neil.
Last weekend Neil Croton who rings west of DT2 controlled a November Great Tit. The Great Tit was visting the feeding station at Kingcombe where he was controlled by Neil.
Sunday 14 March 2010
Mute Swans at the west end of KMC lake
Photos by Sam Daw
Wednesday 3 March 2010
February numbers
Ringing in Martinstown in February 2010, new (retrap)
Dunock 1, robin 3 (1), blackbird 2 (1), blue tit 2, house sparrow 3 (1), chaffinch 6, greenfinch 4 (1), goldfinch 13, bullfinch 1 and yellowhammer 2
Mallard with the RRG 2 (3) and shelduck with the ARG 2 (11)
Of the 42 birds caught at the allotment and in the garden there are only 4 retraps - are they just good at seeing the net the second time around. The blackbird retrap was first recorded in the late summer, last year, as a pullus found in the garden hedge - that is really pleasing!
Dunock 1, robin 3 (1), blackbird 2 (1), blue tit 2, house sparrow 3 (1), chaffinch 6, greenfinch 4 (1), goldfinch 13, bullfinch 1 and yellowhammer 2
Mallard with the RRG 2 (3) and shelduck with the ARG 2 (11)
Of the 42 birds caught at the allotment and in the garden there are only 4 retraps - are they just good at seeing the net the second time around. The blackbird retrap was first recorded in the late summer, last year, as a pullus found in the garden hedge - that is really pleasing!
Monday 1 March 2010
February
Creating some timely pithy blogs has been tricky as BT contrived to remove the home broadband connection which has been a little irksome to say the least!
However its been a quiet few weeks for the mist nets at the allotment and at College. Numbers to follow.
On Saturday I joined the Axe Ringing Group for my first experience of cannon netting, it was a great morning with 56 shelduck, 2 mute swans and moorhen caught and processed. Thanks to the Axe Ringing Group for their warm welcome and to the Radipole Ringing Group for the introduction.
However its been a quiet few weeks for the mist nets at the allotment and at College. Numbers to follow.
On Saturday I joined the Axe Ringing Group for my first experience of cannon netting, it was a great morning with 56 shelduck, 2 mute swans and moorhen caught and processed. Thanks to the Axe Ringing Group for their warm welcome and to the Radipole Ringing Group for the introduction.
adult and first year shelduck wing for ageing
Thursday 11 February 2010
News of 2 of my birds!
I know they are not really my birds but they have been handled by me and the rings were placed there by me! So the news about X767541 (great tit) and LB78345 (blackbird) was welcomed but a little sad.
The BTO report arrived via my trainer Steve Hales; the blackbird, a female born last year lived another 127 days after ringing before flying into a window. technicall it flew 2 km at 181 degrees - but in reality it was just down the road. The great tit was taken by a cat some 15 days after being ringed - technically he didnt travel quite so far into the village but still at 181 degrees.
Needless to say I am absolutely on tender hooks to get my first control - I keep telling myself its not long to the spring and migration!
The BTO report arrived via my trainer Steve Hales; the blackbird, a female born last year lived another 127 days after ringing before flying into a window. technicall it flew 2 km at 181 degrees - but in reality it was just down the road. The great tit was taken by a cat some 15 days after being ringed - technically he didnt travel quite so far into the village but still at 181 degrees.
Needless to say I am absolutely on tender hooks to get my first control - I keep telling myself its not long to the spring and migration!
Sunday 7 February 2010
The weekend catch
A gentle weekend. Saturday started with some ringing with some duck ringing with the Radiploe Ringing Group, Terry had set the aberton trap (this probably has a DT2 post code!) and 4 mallards were processed, 2 were retraps from the summer. It certainly helps knowing the age when ageing mallards at this time of year! ww.radipoleringinggroup.co.uk
Sunday was a busy day with the mini-diiger working all day as we prepare for more vegetables this year. The mist net catch suffered from all the activity but 3 new robins were a nice surprise there have been no new robins since the begining of November - are these local birds or is this the start of returning birds for the spring.
Chaffinch
Taken with the new camera!
Thursday 4 February 2010
January 2010
My first January as a C ringer resulted in 9 mist net sessions of a couple of hours each - split 50:50 or there abouts between the farm at Kingston Maurward and the Martinstown Allotment.
Ringing at the farm centred on the maize silage clamp which acted as a magnet to birds during the harsher weather. 44 birds caught of 9 species; meadow pipit 1, wren 2, dunnock 2, robin 7, backbird 7, great tit 1, starling 7, house sparrow 3 and chaffinch 14.
The allotment catch never ceases to amaze and surprise, 62 birds of 10 species; dunnock 6, blackbird 6, redwing 1, blue tit1, house sparrow 6, chaffinch 14, greenfinch 9, goldfinch 6, bullfinch 1 and yellowhammer 4.
Ringing at the farm centred on the maize silage clamp which acted as a magnet to birds during the harsher weather. 44 birds caught of 9 species; meadow pipit 1, wren 2, dunnock 2, robin 7, backbird 7, great tit 1, starling 7, house sparrow 3 and chaffinch 14.
The allotment catch never ceases to amaze and surprise, 62 birds of 10 species; dunnock 6, blackbird 6, redwing 1, blue tit1, house sparrow 6, chaffinch 14, greenfinch 9, goldfinch 6, bullfinch 1 and yellowhammer 4.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Sunday at the allotment
The 18m Allotment Net Photo: Andy Daw
Sunday was lovely, warm with the dunnocks and great tits calling, I opened the allotment net for a few hours - surprisingly small number of retraps but stand out birds were 2 male yellowhammers - these are the first yellowhammers caught at the allotment - the 2 males were separated by an hour - its these sort of surprises, the movement patterns that you don't expect that make ringing at the allotment a delight.
Photo: Andy Daw
Sunday 17 January 2010
Pulli ringing
Over the last 3 years we have been ringing pulli on the college estate.
This includes a number of classic tit nest boxes scattered around the estate. In the 2009 breeding season we ringed 50 bluetit pulli and 54 great tit pulli.
With the help of the gardening team and Steve J's keen observational skills we were able to ring 27 pied wagtail pulli last year. These were also colour ringed as part of the Pied White wagtail project that Steve Hales my trainer is involved with. See http://www.devonbirds.org/node/372 for more information.
In 2009 we also rang:
This includes a number of classic tit nest boxes scattered around the estate. In the 2009 breeding season we ringed 50 bluetit pulli and 54 great tit pulli.
Photo: Steve Jeffery
With the help of the gardening team and Steve J's keen observational skills we were able to ring 27 pied wagtail pulli last year. These were also colour ringed as part of the Pied White wagtail project that Steve Hales my trainer is involved with. See http://www.devonbirds.org/node/372 for more information.
Photo: Steve Jeffery
Photo: Steve Jeffery
In 2009 we also rang:
- 7 stock dove pulli that had taken residence in our barn owl boxes
- 40 swallow pulli - I was hoping to do more adults last year for an RAS but the adult swallows were a bit too clever for me
- 4 blackbird chicks - we really should manage a few more of these!
Thursday 7 January 2010
2010 Martinstown
A quiet start to the year with the nets around the feeders closed to let the birds feed easily but a couple of short sesions with the allotment net open has yielded dunno 1, bluti 2, goldf 2, chaff 2, blabi 1, housp 1 and rewin 1.
Picture: Sam Daw
January 2010 - College ringing
On the College farm the maize clamp face at Higher Dairy is acting as a magnet to starlings, blackbirds, chaffinches and pied wagtails.
On Sunday, 3rd Janauary, I tried my 6m net by a gateway and tall hedge for an hour and caught 6 chaffinch and a couple of house sparrows - so today I set up the 6m and an 18m net a little closer to the clamp in preparation for some ringing tomorrow. In 20 minutes of the nets being up 6 starlings, 4 chaffinch, 2 robins, a dunnock and a blackbird poped into the nets - lets hope the wind is not too strong tomorrow!
On Sunday, 3rd Janauary, I tried my 6m net by a gateway and tall hedge for an hour and caught 6 chaffinch and a couple of house sparrows - so today I set up the 6m and an 18m net a little closer to the clamp in preparation for some ringing tomorrow. In 20 minutes of the nets being up 6 starlings, 4 chaffinch, 2 robins, a dunnock and a blackbird poped into the nets - lets hope the wind is not too strong tomorrow!
Monday 4 January 2010
2009 ringing
I started ringing on my own on May 1 and managed 1193 birds and pulli caught and processed - this included 126 retraps. I also did some ringing with Steve Hales my trainer at the Abbotsbury Swannery, with Terry and the Radipole Ringing Group and a trip with the Axe Estuary Ringing Group - together the 2009 year total was 1344 birds caught, processed or ringed.
The majority of the DT2 birds were caught in Martinstown. I had always assumed I would catch breeding and resident birds but it turns out there is a little migration corridor through the village as the birds seem to follow the South Winterborne River. Some more detail about 891 birds caught in Martinstown over the next few weeks but a couple of grasshopper warblers, 10 garden warblers, 6 sedge warblers and a reed warbler through August and September indicate there is something going on!
The majority of the DT2 birds were caught in Martinstown. I had always assumed I would catch breeding and resident birds but it turns out there is a little migration corridor through the village as the birds seem to follow the South Winterborne River. Some more detail about 891 birds caught in Martinstown over the next few weeks but a couple of grasshopper warblers, 10 garden warblers, 6 sedge warblers and a reed warbler through August and September indicate there is something going on!
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