Ringing near Gifford, winter 07-08 (1 Viewer)

02/02/08 Ringing at site 1. Many thanks to all concerned.

Mist netting at feeding station

Blackbird new 0
retrap 4
Blue tit new 1
retrap
Brambling new 20
retrap 1
Chaffinch new 15
retrap 6
Dunnock new 2
retrap 3
Greenfinch new 3
retrap
Long tailed tit new
retrap 1
Robin new 1
retrap 8
Yellowhammer new 15
retrap 5
TOTAL new 57
retrap 28

Whoosh netting at wild bird cover
Linnet new 80
retrap 5

This was our first between winter brambling retrap. We ringed our first in winter 02-03; small numbers each winter since; best 25 last winter; total 65 ringed prior to this winter. This winter we have ringed 33 to date. We have only had 4 previous (same winter) retraps; 3 last winter and 1 in 04-05.

Also seen / heard near feeding station
Tawny owl
90-100 Golden plover
Skylark
45 Fieldfare
Goldcrest

At wild bird cover
Kestrel
Merlin
c.10 skylark300-350 linnet
c.10 skylark

In my garden
2 greater spotted woodpecker
2 Brambling
2 Greenfinch
20+ chaffinch
Goldfinch

Friday
Around the farm Friday
4 Grey partridge
Several small groups of fieldfare
4 Goldfinch

Site 3
c.50 fieldfare
40-50 blackbird
20+ chaffinch
15+ yellowhammer

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

10/2/08 Ringing at site 2. Many thanks to all concerned.

Blackbird new 3
retrap 2
Blue tit new 4
retrap
Chaffinch new 6
retrap
Coal tit new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 2
retrap 6
Great tit new 1
retrap
Greenfinch new 1
retrap
Reed bunting new 48
retrap 13
Robin new 3
retrap 1
Tree sparrow new 1
retrap
Wren new 3
retrap 1
Yellowhammer new 4
retrap 2
TOTAL new 77
retrap 25


and whoosh netting rape bait beside wild bird cover at site 1 :

Greenfinch new 1
retrap
Linnet new 112
retrap 12
out of a flock of 350+ linnet

Glorious weather, many birds singing.

Also seen / heard at site 2 :
Buzzard
2+ Tawny owl
Grey partridge
2 greater spotted woodpecker
Mistle thrush
Skylark
Siskin
Brambling
20+ linnet
Ringer saw a Barn owl at Blindwells.

At site 1, feeding station
Haar made counting difficult
2 long-tailed tit
30+ chaffinch
1 greenfinch
50 odd brambling
1 reed bunting
50+ yellowhammer

around my garden
4 Grey partridge
Greater spotted woodpecker
2 house sparrow
40+ chaffinch
3 goldfinch
c.5 greenfinch

and around the farm on Saturday
Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk
Mistle thrush
16 fieldfare

At site 3 (Saturday)
Mistle thrush
3 Tree sparrow
6+ chaffinch
22 yellowhammer

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

16/2/08 Ringing at site 3. Many thanks to all concerned.

Blackbird new 3
retrap 12
Blue tit new 2
retrap 1
Chaffinch new 8
retrap 1
Coal tit new
retrap 1
Dunnock new 5
retrap 6
Great tit new 3
retrap
Robin new 3
retrap 2
Starling new 1
retrap
Tree sparrow new 2
retrap 1
Yellowhammer new 12
retrap 2
TOTALS new 39
retrap 26

One of the blacbirds listed as a retrap was actually a control, ring marked "Germany".

At site 1, whoosh netting beside wild bird cover
Linnet new 67
retrap 18

Also seen / heard at site 3
Mallard
Merlin
Tawny owl
Barn owl
Jay
2+ Greater spotted woodpecker
Mistle thrush
c.30 fieldfare just up the hill.

Twice in the last hew days I have flushed woodcock from the road verge about a hundred metres down the road. Kestrel present here on Friday afternoon.

And at the whoosh netting station
Kestrel
Merlin

The atlas tetrad (TTV) including site 1 (Sunday, 17th) yielded :
Blackbird 8
Blue tit 4
Brambling 6
Buzzard 2
Carrion crow 4
Chaffinch 32
Coal tit 1
Dunnock 3
Fieldfare 13
Great tit 2
Greater spotted woodpecker 1
Greenfinch 4
Hering gull 1
House sparrow 6
Jackdaw 2
Jay 1
Kestrel 1
Linnet 15
Long tailed tit 1
Pheasant 2
Redpoll 1
Reed bunting 4
Robin 3
Siskin 2
Skylark 14
Tree sparrow 4
Woodpigeon 60
Wren 3
Yellowhammer 52

also lots of hares and 1 roe deer

Immediately after finishing we saw
Golden plover 1
Grey partridge 6
song thrush

Other sightings over the weekend included
in my garden/steading
2 grey partridge
starling
greater spotted woodpecker
20+ chaffinch
5 greenfinch
5 yellowhammer

20+ fieldfare in wheat behind my house
2 buzzard displaying
Other buzzard sightings

Jay and 5 long tailed tit at feeding station

Trying not to forget corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits for the atlas report only

Disappointed on the TTV. Selected a completely different route through a scrubby bog. Got very wet feet for nothing - not a snipe or even a softbill or tit.

Mike.

24/02/08 Ringing at site 1. Many thanks to all concerned.

Mist netting at feeding station

Blackbird new 2
retrap 3
Brambling new 2
retrap
Chaffinch new 8
retrap 1
Dunnock new 3
retrap 2
House sparrow new 1
retrap
Reed bunting new 1
retrap
Robin new 2
retrap 7
Sparrowhawk new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 14
retrap 5
TOTAL new 34
retrap 18

Curtailed by wind.

Whoosh netting at wild bird cover, combined totals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Linnet new 113
retrap 28
Skylark new 1
retrap

Also seen / heard near feeding station
Tawny owl
Golden plover
Skylark
Mistle thrush
60 fieldfare
Greenfinch

On a clear and frosty day on Tuesday I had loads of 3s
3 House sparrow
3 Tree sparrow
3 Brambling
3 Greenfinch
3 Reed bunting
50+ Chaffinch
100+ Yellowhammer

At wild bird cover
2 Buzzard
Kestrel
130 Golden plover

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

2/3/08 Ringing at site 1. Many thanks to all concerned.

No mist netting due to wind.

Whoosh netting at wild bird cover, combined totals for Saturday and Sunday

Linnet new 97
retrap 64


At site 1 feeding station
4 Blackbird
2 Song thrush
10 House sparrow
3 Tree sparrow
3 Dunnock
2 Robin
6 Brambling
2 Greenfinch
4 Reed bunting
20+ Chaffinch
50+ Yellowhammer

At site 3 feeding station
19 Blackbird
2 Song thrush
2 House sparrow
4 Tree sparrow
6 Dunnock
4 Robin
1 Brambling
20+ Chaffinch
75+ Yellowhammer

In my garden (max counts at different times)
Greater spotted woodpecker
1 house sparrow
36 goldfinch
60+ chaffinch
9 greenfinch
2/3 brambling
1 yellowhammer

Groups of fieldfare 20-60 scattered around seem to be favouring rape just now.

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

24/02/08 Ringing at site 1. Many thanks to all concerned.

Mist netting at feeding station

Blackbird new 3
retrap 6
Blue tit new
retrap 2
Brambling new 7
retrap
Chaffinch new 17
retrap 7
Dunnock new 3
retrap 1
Goldfinch new 1
retrap
Greenfinch new 3
retrap
Reed bunting new 3
retrap 2
Robin new 1
retrap 2
Tree sparrow new 1
retrap
Woodpigeon new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 24
retrap 3
TOTAL new 64
retrap 23

Whoosh netting at wild bird cover, combined totals for Friday and Sunday

Linnet new 127
retrap 96

Also seen / heard near feeding station
Buzzard
Kestrel
Golden plover
Woodcock
Skylark
Mistle thrush
Song thrush
Wren
Long tailed tit

At whoosh net site
Merlin
Skylark

At site 3, Sunday
12 blackbird
House sparrow
5 Tree sparrow
Robin
2+ Dunnock
c.30 Chaffinch
c.100 Yellowhammer
2 Reed bunting

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

15/3/08 Ringing at site 2. Many thanks to all concerned.

Blackbird new 1
retrap 2
Blue tit new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 1
retrap 2
Long tailed tit new
retrap 2
Reed bunting new 19
retrap 1
Robin new 2
retrap 2
Song Thrush new 1
retrap
Wren new
retrap 1
Yellowhammer new 2
retrap
TOTAL new 27
retrap 10


and whoosh netting rape bait beside wild bird cover at site 1, total for Saturday and Sunday :

Linnet new 92
retrap 63

Out of a flock of 200+ birds.

Glorious weather, many birds singing.

Also seen / heard at site 2 :
Buzzard
Kestrel
Tawny owl
3+ greater spotted woodpecker
2 Mistle thrush
Skylark
Pied wagtail
Jay
2 Goldcrest
many Chaffinch
3 Bullfinch
9 Redpoll

At site 1 :
Whoosh net site
buzzard
kestrel
2 grey partridge
several skylark
reed bunting

feeding station
5+ blackbird
7+ tree sparrow
4+ house sparrow
maybe 50 chaffinch
2 greenfinch
2/3 brambling
8+ reed bunting
c.100 yellowhammer

around my garden in the last week
2 Grey partridge
pr Greater spotted woodpecker
2 blackbird
2 house sparrow
40+ chaffinch
1 brambling
8 goldfinch
9 greenfinch
6 yellowhammer

At site 3 (Saturday)
Tree sparrow
House sparrow
3+ chaffinch
50+ yellowhammer
3+ reed bunting

with 4 peewit displaying in adjacent field

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

23/3/08 Ringing at site 3. Many thanks to all concerned.

Blackbird new 6
retrap 10
Blue tit new 15
retrap 2
Chaffinch new 19
retrap 2
Coal tit new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 5
retrap 6
Goldcrest new 2
retrap
Great tit new 5
retrap
Greenfinch new 3
retrap
House sparrow new 1
retrap 2
Reed bunting new 3
retrap 1
Robin new 4
retrap 3
Song Thrush new 1
retrap
Starling new 3
retrap
Tree sparrow new 7
retrap 1
Yellowhammer new 62
retrap 9
TOTALS new 137
retrap 36


At site 1, whoosh netting beside wild bird cover combined total for 21st and 22nd

Greenfinch new 2
retrap 1
Linnet new 151
retrap 144
TOTAL new 153
retrap 145

Also seen / heard at site 3
2 Mallard
2 Buzzard
Kestrel
Tawny owl
Barn owl
3+ Greater spotted woodpecker
8+ Meadow pipit
Mistle thrush
3+ Pied wagtail


And at the whoosh netting station
Kestrel

Other sightings over the weekend included
in my garden/steading
2 grey partridge
starling
greater spotted woodpecker
50+ chaffinch
8 greenfinch
3 goldfinch
1 brambling
24 yellowhammer

At feeding station
2+ Tree sparrow
4+ house sparrow
Blackird
3 Dunnock
3 Robin
50+ chaffinch
2 brambling
9 reed bunting
50+ yellowhammer

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits

Mike.

Ringing 24/3/08 at site 1, whoosh netting beside wild bird cover. Many thanks to all concerned.

Linnet new 24
retrap 67

One of these retraps was actually a control. A BTO ring, looks a relatively recent number.

Mike.

citrinella said:

Ringing 24/3/08 at site 1, whoosh netting beside wild bird cover. Many thanks to all concerned.

Linnet new 24
retrap 67

One of these retraps was actually a control. A BTO ring, looks a relatively recent number.

Mike.

Click to expand...

Brief details obtained through the grapevine : ringed 10.11.07 in Easter Ross - movement approx 200km SSE in 135 days.

30/03/08 Ringing at site 1. Many thanks to all concerned.

Mist netting at feeding station

Blackbird new 1
retrap 2
Blue tit new 1
retrap 1
Brambling new 3
retrap
Chaffinch new 19
retrap 5
Chiffchaff new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 2
retrap 1
Reed bunting new 2
retrap 1
Robin new 1
retrap
Song Thrush new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 8
retrap 3
TOTAL new 39
retrap 13

Whoosh netting at wild bird cover, combined totals for Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Linnet new 63
retrap 64

Also seen / heard near feeding station
Greylag goose
Buzzard
Grey heron
Skylark
Meadow pipit
Mistle thrush
Treecreeper
Greenfinch

At whoosh net site
Buzzard
2 Peewit
2 Pied wagtail
Meadow pipit
10+ Skylark

Near my house
50+ fieldfare

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

05/04/08 Ringing at site 3. Many thanks to all concerned.

Blackbird new
retrap 1
Blue tit new 5
retrap 1
Chaffinch new 13
retrap 6
Coal tit new 1
retrap 1
Dunnock new 1
retrap 2
Great tit new 3
retrap
Reed bunting new 1
retrap 2
Robin new 2
retrap
Treecreeper new 1
retrap
Tree sparrow new 5
retrap
Yellowhammer new 4
retrap 3
TOTALS new 36
retrap 16

At site 1, whoosh netting beside wild bird cover, totals for 2nd, 3rd and 5th.
Linnet new 87
retrap 103

Also seen / heard at site 3
Greylag goose
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Tawny owl
Grey partridge
Jay
2+ Greater spotted woodpecker
Starling
Mistle thrush
Meadow pipit
Pied wagtail
Chiffchaff
Siskin

And at the whoosh netting station
Buzzard
Pr Grey partridge
10+ Skylark
Meadow pipit
Pied wagtail

Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls, pigeons and tits.

Mike.

Mist netting has finished for the winter. I'd like to put up a table showing previous years but the text formatting is hell ! sorry.

Mist net catches for the winter are shown below. Whoosh netting continues.

We have had a very odd year. Most species are up on normal. We mist net on a cycle round three farms. However our normal two best sites, bait provided, have been down, especially on yellowhammer, while the third site, wild bird cover, has been our star performer. In particular we have caught over 200 reed bunting there while our normal for all sites is 20-40.

My impression is that it has been a poor year, but catches have been good, highest ever overall new birds ringed and also for quite a few species, because the wild bird cover site was unusually productive and attractive.

I expected a poor year for yellowhammer because I found hardly any family parties last summer - only 2-3, whereas normally I find dozens (skylark seemed even worse but I can't confirm that with catches).

So, reed bunting were a real surprise. Brambling pleased too. Catches are normally high teens, 27 last year. I have seen an increase in numbers of brambling this week again, up to 17+, and none seem to be ringed.

Species counts below - species with zeroes have been caught before, but not this winter. We have caught one skylark at the whoosh net site, and a twite this week. New species for the year - chiffchaff, jay, lesser redpoll (tape lured), twite (whoosh netted).

Mike.

Blackbird new 100
retrap 76
Blackcap new 0
retrap 0
Blue tit new 67
retrap 14
Brambling new 45
retrap 1
Bullfinch new 3
retrap 0
Chaffinch new 199
retrap 36
Chiffchaff new 1
retrap 0
Coal tit new 10
retrap 3
Dunnock new 69
retrap 58
Fieldfare new 2
retrap 0
Goldcrest new 6
retrap 0
Goldfinch new 5
retrap 0
Great tit new 22
retrap 1
Greenfinch new 37
retrap 1
Grey partridge new 0
retrap 0
House sparrow new 28
retrap 6
Jay new 1
retrap 0
Lesser Redpoll new 2
retrap 0
Linnet new 0
retrap 0
Long tailed tit new 18
retrap 8
Meadow pipit new 0
retrap 0
Redwing new 2
retrap 0
Reed bunting new 216
retrap 23
Robin new 47
retrap 59
Skylark new 0
retrap 0
Song Thrush new 5
retrap 0
Sparrowhawk new 2
retrap 0
Starling new 5
retrap 0
Treecreeper new 1
retrap 0
Tree sparrow new 46
retrap 5
Woodpigeon new 1
retrap 0
Wren new 16
retrap 4
Yellowhammer new 210
retrap 34

Totals mist net sites new 1166
retrap 329

Control news

Have just received details of two controls :
Brambling
N 5F 24/03/07 nr Gifford
C 4F 29/09/07 Titran, Sor-Trondelag, Norway 63 40N 8 19E - moved c.1100km

N - new; C - controlled
5 - caught after 1st Jan, born latest breeding season; 4 - caught before 1st Jan, older than latest breeding season
F - female

Blackbird
N 5M 10/03/05 Helgoland, Germany
C 6M nr Gifford - moved c.700km

6 - caught after 1st Jan, older than latest breeding season
M - male

Recovery rates are abysmal, apparently were much better 40+ years ago. We have ringed c.6500 birds since December 02. This is only the second that has been picked up elsewhere (a song thrush was found dead N.Yorks, c.249km).

We have done slightly better on incoming birds. IIRC we have caught c.7 ringed elsewhere : 1 long-tailed tit (c11km); 2 chaffinch (Angus, c.65km; Stavanger, c.650km); 2 blackbird (Isle of May, c.33km; and the above); 1 linnet (E.Ross, c210km); and 1 wren (Edinburgh, c.30km but this record is suspicious - apparently from the ringers garden : did it hitch a lift ? did we misread the ring ?).

Whoosh netting final totals Feb-Apr 08

Greenfinch new 3
retrap 1
Linnet new 1171
retrap 793
Skylark new 1
retrap 0
Twite new 1
retrap 0

TOTAL new 1176
retrap 794

Mike.