citrinella
Well-known member
Winter ringing has started again on farms around Gifford. Methodology is changing slightly. The three main sites continue as before. The wild bird cover at site 1 will probably only be visited occasionally on an ad hoc basis : either opportunistically or filling in when visits to regular sits become too close together. Currently there is a lot of spoiled grain dumped here, if that draws a lot of birds, we will probably pay a visit.
Over the next 2 years we are intending to develop a new site (site 4) where wild bird cover will be supported by a deliberate programme of ground feeding. This winter there is no wild bird cover, so it will be a ground feeding station only.
Dave Aiton has joined us this winter. In line with his interests we hope to conduct a little more whoosh netting (targetting linnet and skylark).
This extra effort in other areas is likely to mean less effort spent on catching house sparrows in my steading. Last winter we caught 46 individual birds. I intend to repeat that sort of effort at intervals to give some indication of population changes.
We ringed at site 2 on 29/10/06, catch below. Many thanks to all concerned.
Blackbird new 2
retrap
Blue tit new 2
retrap
Dunnock new 4
retrap
Great tit new 3
retrap
Greenfinch new 1
retrap
Wren new 2
retrap
Yellowhammer new 4
retrap 2
TOTAL new 18
retrap 2
Also seen/heard at site 2 :
Several skeins of pink footed geese, largest c.180, most uncounted but about 50.
Buzzard
Tawny owl
Greater spotted woodpecker
Treecreeper
Fieldfare
c.15 Redwing
Skylark
Grey wagtail
Robin
c.12 Siskin
Chaffinch
Brambling
Goldfinch
Linnet
Bullfinch
Reed bunting
3+ roe deer
Nearby : 10 Grey partridge
Chief ringer saw a Barn owl at Colstoun Mains
Highlights around site 1 :
Buzzard
Kestrel
12 Grey partridge
0 Golden plover (yes, I am reporting none - a surprise to me)
Jay
several small groups of skylark
65 linnet on wild bird cover
flock of chaffinch feeding on beech mast just down the road - no white bums (brambling) evident
generally, finches and bunting still well scattered.
Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls pigeons and tits.
Mike.
Over the next 2 years we are intending to develop a new site (site 4) where wild bird cover will be supported by a deliberate programme of ground feeding. This winter there is no wild bird cover, so it will be a ground feeding station only.
Dave Aiton has joined us this winter. In line with his interests we hope to conduct a little more whoosh netting (targetting linnet and skylark).
This extra effort in other areas is likely to mean less effort spent on catching house sparrows in my steading. Last winter we caught 46 individual birds. I intend to repeat that sort of effort at intervals to give some indication of population changes.
We ringed at site 2 on 29/10/06, catch below. Many thanks to all concerned.
Blackbird new 2
retrap
Blue tit new 2
retrap
Dunnock new 4
retrap
Great tit new 3
retrap
Greenfinch new 1
retrap
Wren new 2
retrap
Yellowhammer new 4
retrap 2
TOTAL new 18
retrap 2
Also seen/heard at site 2 :
Several skeins of pink footed geese, largest c.180, most uncounted but about 50.
Buzzard
Tawny owl
Greater spotted woodpecker
Treecreeper
Fieldfare
c.15 Redwing
Skylark
Grey wagtail
Robin
c.12 Siskin
Chaffinch
Brambling
Goldfinch
Linnet
Bullfinch
Reed bunting
3+ roe deer
Nearby : 10 Grey partridge
Chief ringer saw a Barn owl at Colstoun Mains
Highlights around site 1 :
Buzzard
Kestrel
12 Grey partridge
0 Golden plover (yes, I am reporting none - a surprise to me)
Jay
several small groups of skylark
65 linnet on wild bird cover
flock of chaffinch feeding on beech mast just down the road - no white bums (brambling) evident
generally, finches and bunting still well scattered.
Mainly forgetting corvids, game birds, gulls pigeons and tits.
Mike.