[tchagra]

Hi There

Well,I have my spanish hat on now,and yesterday morning had an session at a site that I may or may not have mentioned before.

Its a little cracker,in fact in the spring I ring on 3 different sites up this river valley,the Rio Guadalmansa,avoid in high summer,because of the human disturbance,( I must be a really selfish individual as I just hate the river valleys in July and August,all these holiday makers swimming in the rock pools ,having BBQ'S,screamimg kids,everybody having fun and party party time,no peace for the wicked,so I must be really wicked!!!).

Anyway,now all the kids are back at school in Europe ,parents back to work ,I can get on with the more serious ( and fun) of ringing in one of my favourite river valleys.

I am wandering a bit today,sorry about that,anyway,back to matters in hand.

Trapped a couple of Spotted Flycatchers amongst other birds and got a pix of one of them,not the best pix,sorry about that,but both the birds were interesting ,this one by the fact that it was a 1st winter bird which had moulted its 4 inner greater coverts,note the outer ones in the shot with large pale tips,.

The other bird,no pix I'm afraid,had undergone some post breeding moult before leaving for Africa,with 2 new ¡nner greater coverts and all new tertials.

Well,its now midday and I have to dash ,got to get some golf practice in ready for a Texas scramble competiton tomorrow with the wife,life is just never boring ,can anybody lend me another 24 hrs.per day,I could use them all very usefully!!!!

Will be on line this evening to polish a few more things off

Have a nice day

Your Spanish Correspondent

[Swift]

Very interesting , how often do you go ringing? Whats the best bird you have ever rung??

[tchagra]

Hi There Swift

Depends on time of year and weather conditions,when I have the Spanish ringing programme ringers staying here,if its not too windy or raining,then every day of the week.

In March for instance,ringed in total,for 21 days.14 days in April and 16 days in May.18 days in June,14 days in July,11 days in august and already 7 days in Sept.


Best Bird ,hard to say,feel priviledged to be able to ring them all.,but I suppose the most colourful is the European Bee Eater.

The birds with cryptic plumage are the most fascinating such as Wryneck,Red Necked Nightjar,Scops Owl,Tawny Owl,Long Eared Owl,Long Tailed Nightjar.

Cheers for now

Your Spanish correspondent