Gibraltar Ringing Report (1 Viewer)

Hi All

Nice to see the agent provocator Steve trying to stir up a bit of discussion.Would love to be drawn into the pros and cons but I would run out of webspace on the subject on both the arguments for and against bird ringing.

Maybe one day I will find an hour or 2 to put type to the computer screen but at the moment too busy RINGING BIRDS!!!!!

Firstly here is the report for the week Sept 22nd.,-29th. on the rock

Well,the new bunch of lads ,4 plus the "resident guy" had a thin time at beginning but once again as the previous things improved to the weeks end.

Here is the list to which I will add a few interesting comments afterwards

New Birds were as follows

1 CHIFFCHAFF ( NOMINATE RACE)
3 WILLOW WARBLERS
6 GARDEN WARBLERS
36 SARDINIAN WARBLERS
76 BLACKCAPS
1 REED WARBLER
1 MELODIOUS WARBLER
1 ORPHEAN WARBLER
16 PIED FLYCATCHERS
3 WRENS
6 BLACKBIRDS
1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR
1 STONECHAT
1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE
13 BLUE TITS
1 TAWNY PIPIT
8 COMMON REDSTARTS
2 NIGHTINGALES
4 ROBINS
3 FAN TAILED WARBLERS
1 WHITETHROAT
3 RED NECKED NIGHTJARS
2 SCOPS OWLS
1 SUBALPINE WARBLER
1 WHINCHAT
1 SPARROWHAWK

The following birds were retrapped

1 GARDEN WARBLER
7 SARDINIAN WARBLERS
7 BLACKCAP
1 REED WARBLER
2 WRENS
5 BLACKBIRDS
1 BLUE TIT
1 COMMON REDSTART

So you can see this is really the peak time as regards mix of species,resident birds,Trans Saharan migrants,the first wintering birds plus some which will undoubtedly cross the Strait to winter N.of the Sahara in Morocco.

This is what will so interesting for our group to investigate next year when we get the ringing programme up and running in N. Morocco and see if we can trap some of the birds that are ringed obviously from N.Europe but also Med. birds as that will paint a much better picture of what is going on down here at all times of the year,such an exciting project.

If you look at the number of sardinian warblers ringed at this time and the numbers retrapped,I am sure even these very weak fliers manage to cross to Morocco.

Notice the large increase in Blackcap numbers and the majority are migrants from the North as they have much longer wing lengths than the local birds.

Locals vary from 66 -72mm and Northerners from 74-80 mm.

There is a small degree of overlap but I am doing a long term study on this species using various biometrics both in Spain and on Gib.and hopefully will glean enough useful scientific data to get a paper out on the subject.

The first "wintering " Robins have moved in an will set up their temp.territories and we will soon hear thier winter subsongs etc.

Have got a couple of blank weeks on the rock now as no ringers booked in but I have had a little ringing in Spain to report tomorrow and from friday I have a mega busy time of it when I pick up 2 UK ringers from Malaga airport and we will be ringing just about non stop for 10 days together as part of my Spanish programme.

Can you believe the weather has just started to crack up with rain forecast from tonight and scattered storms right up till Sat.night,sods law but we might miss some of the rubbish as it can be localised at this time but if get caught in a storm pretty darned scary as can be very violent and tropical.

will keep you posted on how things go.

Must dash but will post some more on Spain tomorrow

Your Gibraltar and Spanish Correspondent

Interesting Gib ringing report. Look forward to your further nrews on the Spannish and Gib ringing front. Wishing you good ringing!

Thanks for keeping us up to date with your ringing. It seems that I must pay you a visit some time. It certainly seems mouth-watering.

Interesting your thoughts on Blackcap wing length. Out of 85 birds from here (UK East Midlands) the range was 71-77mm with the average at 74.3mm. Being inland, we are not known as a migration hotspot, so I assume these were all UK breeders. It would be interesting to see data from Scandinavia/Germany.

Interesting report tchagra. I find it fascinating that there are wing size differences between more sedentary birds and forms of the same species that migrate from further afield (though this would perhaps be logical as presumebly longer wings mean less wing beats so saving energy?).
I hope the weather does hold up for you and in the longer term, your research on the Blackcap goes well.

Incidently regarding your online name, I presume it comes from this? http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/safring/results/0714.htm

Re Tchagra

Hi There Nova

Good guess re Tchagra,you got the correct species but mine comes from N.Africa,well actually Morocco,but have handled this bird when ringing in the Gambia too,Blackcrowned Tchagra.

I like the website,S.Africa is on my hitlist for a 3 or 4 week birding trip.

Cheers for now

Tchagra

Hi Tchagra,

I've been wondering too - did you choose this name because you'd pulled one out of your mist nets in Spain? (how many, if any, Spanish records are there of it?)

Michael

Re Tchagra

Hi Michael

Well,there is at least 1 record down here for this species maybe 2 or 3 year ago now only 1 hr drive from me,and I did not get to see it.

Turned up near 1 of my ringing sites which I did not have at the time.

So ,I will keep looking and putting up the nets as you never know what you find in them on the next net round!!!!!!!!

Your Spanish Correspondent

P.S. with the bad weather last night and this morning could be lots of grounded migrants around,pity cannoy get to ring till Friday evening at the earliest,but more storms forecast for Sat.