Above & Below: This peregrine is a male based on it's small size.
A first for me and a great experience!
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Special Mission
With relevent permissions and a ringer with the correct license, I went on a special mission today: to ring a peregrine juvenile.
Above & Below: This peregrine is a male based on it's small size.
A first for me and a great experience!
Above & Below: This peregrine is a male based on it's small size.
A first for me and a great experience!
Monday, 20 June 2011
Recovery at last!
My first ringing recovery (i.e. a bird I ringed found elsewhere).
A female Great Tit (ring number L098462) ringed at my dad's house in the Cotswolds, found freshly dead 496 days later on 14th May 2011 at Chedworth, Gloucestershire, 8km away.
I'm pleased as I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong!
A female Great Tit (ring number L098462) ringed at my dad's house in the Cotswolds, found freshly dead 496 days later on 14th May 2011 at Chedworth, Gloucestershire, 8km away.
I'm pleased as I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong!
Another 100+ weekend
Priory Country Park CES Visit 5: 48 birds of 13 species (retraps in brackets):
Whitethroat 3 (2)
Robin 3 (1)
Wren 3 (1)
Chaffinch 1 (1)
Dunnock 2 (2)
Blue Tit 3 (0)
Blackcap 3 (1)
Marsh Tit 1 (0)
Great Tit 5 (1)
Chiff Chaff 1 (0)
Bullfinch 0 (1)
Reed Warbler 2 (0)
Long Tailed Tit 9 (2)
Above: Marsh Tit (only the 4th of this species ringed at Priory CP).
Above: Thanks to Dave Kramer for this photograph of me exhaling after a net round with 20birds.
Thanks to John Anderson for scribing whilst we were processing a large 'tit flock', and to Dave Barnes and Dave Kramer and John again for helping David and myself release all the long tailed tits at the same time so that the family party remained together.
The good numbers on CES seem to be holding up - so long as a passing tit flock leaves behind a good few members of its party!
Sandy Smith Nature Reserve - 19/06/11
64 birds of 14 species: (retraps in brackets)
Great Tit 12 (6)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (1)
Blackbird 2 (0)
Dunnock 0 (3)
Wren 0 (1)
Chaffinch 1 (3)
Blue Tit 7 (2)
Sedge Warbler 0 (1)
Whitethroat 7 (6)
Chiff Chaff 4 (1)
Garden Warbler 1 (0)
Goldfinch 3 (0)
Grasshopper Warbler 0 (1)
Willow Warbler 1 (0)
Priory Country Park CES visit 5 - 18/06/11
Above: A juvenile Great Spotted Warbler.
Above: Adult female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Whitethroat 3 (2)
Robin 3 (1)
Wren 3 (1)
Chaffinch 1 (1)
Dunnock 2 (2)
Blue Tit 3 (0)
Blackcap 3 (1)
Marsh Tit 1 (0)
Great Tit 5 (1)
Chiff Chaff 1 (0)
Bullfinch 0 (1)
Reed Warbler 2 (0)
Long Tailed Tit 9 (2)
Above: Marsh Tit (only the 4th of this species ringed at Priory CP).
Above: Thanks to Dave Kramer for this photograph of me exhaling after a net round with 20birds.
Thanks to John Anderson for scribing whilst we were processing a large 'tit flock', and to Dave Barnes and Dave Kramer and John again for helping David and myself release all the long tailed tits at the same time so that the family party remained together.
The good numbers on CES seem to be holding up - so long as a passing tit flock leaves behind a good few members of its party!
Sandy Smith Nature Reserve - 19/06/11
64 birds of 14 species: (retraps in brackets)
Great Tit 12 (6)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (1)
Blackbird 2 (0)
Dunnock 0 (3)
Wren 0 (1)
Chaffinch 1 (3)
Blue Tit 7 (2)
Sedge Warbler 0 (1)
Whitethroat 7 (6)
Chiff Chaff 4 (1)
Garden Warbler 1 (0)
Goldfinch 3 (0)
Grasshopper Warbler 0 (1)
Willow Warbler 1 (0)
Priory Country Park CES visit 5 - 18/06/11
Above: A juvenile Great Spotted Warbler.
Above: Adult female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Green Wood Ringer strikes!
My first self caught Green Woodpecker!
The red in the malar stripe (below the eye) makes this a male.
Seeing a Green Woodpecker in the hand was one of my main motivations to become a bird ringer. I can't count the number of times I've seen one and willed it to go in the net!
As it flies away from you, laughing, the flash of green sticks in the memory.
The chance (however small) of someday having another one in the hand will keep me getting up at silly o'clock most weekends for a long, long time! And whilst I'm waiting for the next Green Woodpecker I might catch a few other birds that will put a big smile on my face too.
To see more info on the other birds I caught today (including only the second Coal Tit to be ringed at Priory Country Park) on CES visit 4, please click here.
The red in the malar stripe (below the eye) makes this a male.
Seeing a Green Woodpecker in the hand was one of my main motivations to become a bird ringer. I can't count the number of times I've seen one and willed it to go in the net!
As it flies away from you, laughing, the flash of green sticks in the memory.
The chance (however small) of someday having another one in the hand will keep me getting up at silly o'clock most weekends for a long, long time! And whilst I'm waiting for the next Green Woodpecker I might catch a few other birds that will put a big smile on my face too.
To see more info on the other birds I caught today (including only the second Coal Tit to be ringed at Priory Country Park) on CES visit 4, please click here.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Juvenile behaviour!
No, not my behavior, or my brothers (for once)! It's the time of year when we start seeing good numbers of juveniles from the early breeders.
SSNR 30/05/11: 21 birds of 8 species (retraps in brackets)
Great Tit 9 (0) - including 6 juveniles
Whitethroat 4 (1) - the retrap being first ringed as an adult June 2010.
Grasshopper Warbler 1 (0) - the 5th this year for this site and the first female
Blackcap 1 (0) - only the third of this species for the site
Dunnock 0 (2)
Chiff Chaff 1 (0)
Sedge Warbler 1 (0)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 (1) - A regularly caught male.
SSNR yesterday 04/06/11: 55 birds of 11 species (retraps in brackets)
Blue Tit 4 (3) - all the new birds were juveniles
Great Tit 4 (0) - including 3 juveniles
Whitethroat 6 (3) - one of the retraps being from June 2010
Chaffinch 9 (1) - including 6 juveniles
Goldfinch 7 (2) - including 2 juveniles
Garden Warbler 3 (0) - 2 males and a female (NEW FOR SITE)
Grasshopper Warbler 0 (2) - a pair
Willow Warbler 1 (0) - the first adult caught on site
Blackcap 8 (0) - mostly adult males except 1 adult female and one juvenile
Dunnock 0 (1) - first ringed on 3rd March 2011
Sedge Warbler 0 (1) - a retrap from May 2011
This is not typical of visits to SSNR and it came as a very welcome surprise. I suspect there are a few reasons for this:
1. weather - overcast first thing (lifting but not completely later on) and wind from the east ('light' to start with increasing to 'far too' by the end of the session). Normal = windy and from the west. Perhaps this was partially responsible for catching a lot of blackcaps (rarely ringed here) and the Garden Warblers (where did they come from?!?).
Above: Garden Warbler
2. I've not ringed at this time of year here with a feeding station. Without this, the catch would consist mainly of Warblers.
3. Juveniles - it's that time of year. Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Whitethroats, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Song Thrushes, Chaffinches, Starlings, Blackcaps - I have seen fledged young of all these species around Bedfordshire. Some examples coming up (all juveniles):
Above: Great Tit
Above: Blue Tit (taken at Priory Country Park).
Above: Robin (taken at Priory Country Park - no juvenile Robins have been caught so far at SSNR).
Above: Blackcap
Above: Goldfinch
Above: Chaffinch
SSNR 30/05/11: 21 birds of 8 species (retraps in brackets)
Great Tit 9 (0) - including 6 juveniles
Whitethroat 4 (1) - the retrap being first ringed as an adult June 2010.
Grasshopper Warbler 1 (0) - the 5th this year for this site and the first female
Blackcap 1 (0) - only the third of this species for the site
Dunnock 0 (2)
Chiff Chaff 1 (0)
Sedge Warbler 1 (0)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 (1) - A regularly caught male.
SSNR yesterday 04/06/11: 55 birds of 11 species (retraps in brackets)
Blue Tit 4 (3) - all the new birds were juveniles
Great Tit 4 (0) - including 3 juveniles
Whitethroat 6 (3) - one of the retraps being from June 2010
Chaffinch 9 (1) - including 6 juveniles
Goldfinch 7 (2) - including 2 juveniles
Garden Warbler 3 (0) - 2 males and a female (NEW FOR SITE)
Grasshopper Warbler 0 (2) - a pair
Willow Warbler 1 (0) - the first adult caught on site
Blackcap 8 (0) - mostly adult males except 1 adult female and one juvenile
Dunnock 0 (1) - first ringed on 3rd March 2011
Sedge Warbler 0 (1) - a retrap from May 2011
This is not typical of visits to SSNR and it came as a very welcome surprise. I suspect there are a few reasons for this:
1. weather - overcast first thing (lifting but not completely later on) and wind from the east ('light' to start with increasing to 'far too' by the end of the session). Normal = windy and from the west. Perhaps this was partially responsible for catching a lot of blackcaps (rarely ringed here) and the Garden Warblers (where did they come from?!?).
Above: Garden Warbler
2. I've not ringed at this time of year here with a feeding station. Without this, the catch would consist mainly of Warblers.
3. Juveniles - it's that time of year. Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Whitethroats, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Song Thrushes, Chaffinches, Starlings, Blackcaps - I have seen fledged young of all these species around Bedfordshire. Some examples coming up (all juveniles):
Above: Great Tit
Above: Blue Tit (taken at Priory Country Park).
Above: Robin (taken at Priory Country Park - no juvenile Robins have been caught so far at SSNR).
Above: Blackcap
Above: Goldfinch
Above: Chaffinch
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Sardinia Birds 3
This will be the last update on Sardinia Birds (for this year!).
Above & Below: Zitting Cisticola (Fan-Tailed Warbler).
I saw these in Menorca last year but never got a good view. The two phographs above were taken on the last day where we visited the salt pans virtually next to the airport. It was well worth the visit and at one point, a Zitting Cisticola was so close I couldn't focus the telescope on it. I found them in the long grass along a fence line and the second photograph was taken as I was observing it moving in and out of the cut grass left on the ground looking for food.
Above: Slender Billed Gull
Having not connected with this species anywhere else in Sardinia (not that we tried specifically), we had read that this species was to be found at the same salt pans. This bird was not overly bothered by our presence and was the only one I saw - if only some of the other birds I saw would pose long enough for a photograph!
Unfortunately, I was not confident of my ID but I am fairly sure we saw a Black Kite here too.
Above: Kentish Plover. Beaches with sand dunes was where I found many of these (including 8 on one beach). Photographing them can only be at distance as they scurry away if you get anywhere near them! I also saw a few at different salt pans (also where I saw one in Menorca).
Above: This Curlew Sandpiper was on this pool on the same beach as the 8 Kentish plovers. The fading light wasn't good for great photographs though.
Above: Winchat. Probably the best photograph of the holiday.
Above: Horned (Shore) Lark. I left probably the second best bird (and the most unexpected) until last.
Walking along, a bird flew from the rocky shore to my left, across the very small headland to the other side. In a situation where any bird I find could turn out to be interesting or something I've never seen before, I'd have been annoyed with myself had I not checked out what it was. Once I'd seen it in the scope, I said "Dad, we're definitely interested in this bird!" The very obliging bird posed for quite a while in the end. Not sure if these are resident or passage migrants in Sardinia or very rare. Collins bird guide suggests this might be a rare record. I certainly didn't read anything before going suggesting you could see this speceis here.
I should do something to try and find out ...
Above & Below: Zitting Cisticola (Fan-Tailed Warbler).
I saw these in Menorca last year but never got a good view. The two phographs above were taken on the last day where we visited the salt pans virtually next to the airport. It was well worth the visit and at one point, a Zitting Cisticola was so close I couldn't focus the telescope on it. I found them in the long grass along a fence line and the second photograph was taken as I was observing it moving in and out of the cut grass left on the ground looking for food.
Above: Slender Billed Gull
Having not connected with this species anywhere else in Sardinia (not that we tried specifically), we had read that this species was to be found at the same salt pans. This bird was not overly bothered by our presence and was the only one I saw - if only some of the other birds I saw would pose long enough for a photograph!
Unfortunately, I was not confident of my ID but I am fairly sure we saw a Black Kite here too.
Above: Kentish Plover. Beaches with sand dunes was where I found many of these (including 8 on one beach). Photographing them can only be at distance as they scurry away if you get anywhere near them! I also saw a few at different salt pans (also where I saw one in Menorca).
Above: This Curlew Sandpiper was on this pool on the same beach as the 8 Kentish plovers. The fading light wasn't good for great photographs though.
Above: Winchat. Probably the best photograph of the holiday.
Above: Horned (Shore) Lark. I left probably the second best bird (and the most unexpected) until last.
Walking along, a bird flew from the rocky shore to my left, across the very small headland to the other side. In a situation where any bird I find could turn out to be interesting or something I've never seen before, I'd have been annoyed with myself had I not checked out what it was. Once I'd seen it in the scope, I said "Dad, we're definitely interested in this bird!" The very obliging bird posed for quite a while in the end. Not sure if these are resident or passage migrants in Sardinia or very rare. Collins bird guide suggests this might be a rare record. I certainly didn't read anything before going suggesting you could see this speceis here.
I should do something to try and find out ...
Sardinia birds 2
There are a lot of suitable sites to watch birds in Sardinia but you have to travel to get a wide range of species. And travel takes time in Sardinia. We could only find 1 to 200000 scale maps (OS maps are 1 to 25000 in the UK) and these weren't that helpful by not showing all the roads!
When the map indicated that the route we wanted to take was going straight on through a town, we often found that due to chaotic one way systems, the actual route was far from straight forward. The lack of signs at major junctions was also not very helpful. And I don't recommend short cuts as you'll soon find yourself lost!
Wildlife tourism here is possible, it's just that signage, directions in literature and information are often hard to come by. Knowing enough Italian to ask for directions & understand them is essential!
Species such as Spanish Sparrow and Hooded Crow were very easy. But Crag Martin and Citril Finch took some travelling to find (slow going up & down those mountain roads) although this may have been just a result of the places we chose to travel to!
Above: A Woodchat Shrike.
Above: Spotted Flycatcher. Whilst sitting in the picnic/cafe area of a 'cultural location', a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were flitting around very close by. It was rude not to take a photograph!
Above: A Wheatear. I only saw this species above the tree line whilst walking up to the top of the highest mountain in Sardinia.
Above: Citril Finch. Again, only recorded above the tree line whilst walking up to the top of the highest mountain in Sardinia. It took us a long time to drive there, but once parked, it took only a minute to find these small finches.
Above: Funny story - the first species I saw on the holiday was a Starling. The plane had been on the ground less than a minute! But it was bothering me for several days. I kept on seeing Starlings but in my mind, I was questioning this ID. "They're a bit black" I was saying to myself. "They can't be blackbirds can they? No, I'm sure they're Starlings." But I'd not seen them up close because when I saw them, I/we were driving and they were at a distance. Anyway, when I finally looked up Starling in the book I found there was such a thing as Spotless Starling! My mind was easier but it still took a day or two to 'spot' one and confirm their spotlessness. The photograph (above) doesn't really show it very well.
Above: Hooded Crow. My holiday was punctuated with many shouts of 'what's that Edward?' My standard reply was - another Hooded Crow dad!
Above: Jackdaw. Whilst the hooded crow was common, this was only one of 2 Jackdaws seen (the other being at the same time as this one). The Hooded Crow (pictured above) and this Jackdaw were vying for position on the telegraph pole.
Above: Spanish Sparrow - this bird was one of many nesting in the roof of our hotel. They were everywhere and were by far the most recorded species on the holiday.
More to come yet!
When the map indicated that the route we wanted to take was going straight on through a town, we often found that due to chaotic one way systems, the actual route was far from straight forward. The lack of signs at major junctions was also not very helpful. And I don't recommend short cuts as you'll soon find yourself lost!
Wildlife tourism here is possible, it's just that signage, directions in literature and information are often hard to come by. Knowing enough Italian to ask for directions & understand them is essential!
Species such as Spanish Sparrow and Hooded Crow were very easy. But Crag Martin and Citril Finch took some travelling to find (slow going up & down those mountain roads) although this may have been just a result of the places we chose to travel to!
Above: A Woodchat Shrike.
Above: Spotted Flycatcher. Whilst sitting in the picnic/cafe area of a 'cultural location', a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were flitting around very close by. It was rude not to take a photograph!
Above: A Wheatear. I only saw this species above the tree line whilst walking up to the top of the highest mountain in Sardinia.
Above: Citril Finch. Again, only recorded above the tree line whilst walking up to the top of the highest mountain in Sardinia. It took us a long time to drive there, but once parked, it took only a minute to find these small finches.
Above: Funny story - the first species I saw on the holiday was a Starling. The plane had been on the ground less than a minute! But it was bothering me for several days. I kept on seeing Starlings but in my mind, I was questioning this ID. "They're a bit black" I was saying to myself. "They can't be blackbirds can they? No, I'm sure they're Starlings." But I'd not seen them up close because when I saw them, I/we were driving and they were at a distance. Anyway, when I finally looked up Starling in the book I found there was such a thing as Spotless Starling! My mind was easier but it still took a day or two to 'spot' one and confirm their spotlessness. The photograph (above) doesn't really show it very well.
Above: Hooded Crow. My holiday was punctuated with many shouts of 'what's that Edward?' My standard reply was - another Hooded Crow dad!
Above: Jackdaw. Whilst the hooded crow was common, this was only one of 2 Jackdaws seen (the other being at the same time as this one). The Hooded Crow (pictured above) and this Jackdaw were vying for position on the telegraph pole.
Above: Spanish Sparrow - this bird was one of many nesting in the roof of our hotel. They were everywhere and were by far the most recorded species on the holiday.
More to come yet!
Sardinian Birds 1
A recent holiday to Sardinia (South West) and I clocked up 76 species of bird, 14 of which I'd never seen before.
1. Spotless Starling
2. Little Egret
3. Swift
4. House Martin
5. Swallow
6. Hooded Crow
7. Kestrel
8. Corn Bunting
9. Spanish Sparrow
10. Stonechat
11. Greenfinch
12. Collared Dove
13. Dunlin
14. Sanderling
15. Alpine Swift
16. Kentish Plover
17. Goldfinch
18. Rock Dove
19. Sardinian Warbler
20. Great Tit
21. Cetti's Warbler
22. Blackbird
23. Spotted Flycatcher
24. Yellow legged gull
25. Black winged stilt
26. Avocet
27. Osprey
28. Turtle Dove
29. Shellduck
30. Ringed Plover
31. Shag
32. Common Tern
33. Greater Flamingo
34. Moorhen
35. Purple Heron
36. Hoopoe
37. Jay
38. Buzzard
39. Linnet
40. Marsh Harrier
41. Bee Eater
42. Woodchat Shrike
43. Grey Wagtail
44. Mallard
45. Robin
46. Coot
47. Little Grebe
48. Cuckoo
49. Blackcap
50. Cirl Bunting
51. Serin
52. Raven
53. Crag Martin
54. Little Tern
55. Curlew Sandpiper
56. Audouin's Gull
57. Moustached Warbler
58. Blue Rock Thrust
59. Eleanora's Falcon
60. Red Kite
61. Great Spotted Woodpecker
62. Jackdaw
63. Pied Flycatcher
64. Woodlark
65. Citril Finch
66. Skylark
67. Chaffinch
68. Winchat
69. Little Ringed Plover
70. Horned (Shore) Lark
71. Barbary partridge
72. Whitethroat
73. Bar-tailed Godwit
74. Cattle Egret
75. Slender Billed Gull
76. Zitting Cisticola (Fan Tailed Warbler)
Above: A Dunlin. Excellent close up views of Dulin and Sanderling were found on the beach (they prefered the small rocky outcrops in the shallow water).
Above: A Sanderling
Above: Greater Flamingo. Views of these birds were at distance only. I recorded them at two locations.
Above: A Serin. Whilst looking for a 'yellow bird' I didn't recognise, my dad called me over, saying 'Edward, look at this, what's this?' - a regular occurance but on this occasion it produced a pine marten! I was unable to get a photo because it moved too quickly. I never did locate that 'yellow bird' but shortly after and before we drove away, I located my first ever Cirl Bunting that flew away shortly before I got the camera ready to take a photo. Typical!
However, we were trying to locate a WWF reserve (I didn't know they did reserves) called Monte Arcuso. Shortly after arriving here I did locate a 'yellow bird' that proved to be the above Serin. Having located one, I found it easier to see more and they seem to be quite common in Sardinia. There was one on the hotel grounds. Their song is a bit like the Corn Bunting 'jangle' but they don't finish the 'jangle' with the same flourish.
Above: Dung beetles. Monte Arcuso has a stunningly beuatiful landscape, deep ravines and high mountains with challenging walks (especially whilst carrying telescope, binoculars and camera!). Plenty of cliffs. Here I also identified my first ever Crag Martins.
Above: Best bird of the holiday - Eleanora's Falcon. I saw 6 of these very rare breeding birds in one field of view in my binoculars. The photograph is a snapshot of a digiscope video I took. We spent a lovely 2 hours watching these birds hunt and play in the wind on the island of St. Pietro. I will never be sure, but it is possible that I saw an Orphean Warbler whilst sitting & wathcing the Eleanora's but I didn't get enough of a view to confirm.
There will be more to come!
1. Spotless Starling
2. Little Egret
3. Swift
4. House Martin
5. Swallow
6. Hooded Crow
7. Kestrel
8. Corn Bunting
9. Spanish Sparrow
10. Stonechat
11. Greenfinch
12. Collared Dove
13. Dunlin
14. Sanderling
15. Alpine Swift
16. Kentish Plover
17. Goldfinch
18. Rock Dove
19. Sardinian Warbler
20. Great Tit
21. Cetti's Warbler
22. Blackbird
23. Spotted Flycatcher
24. Yellow legged gull
25. Black winged stilt
26. Avocet
27. Osprey
28. Turtle Dove
29. Shellduck
30. Ringed Plover
31. Shag
32. Common Tern
33. Greater Flamingo
34. Moorhen
35. Purple Heron
36. Hoopoe
37. Jay
38. Buzzard
39. Linnet
40. Marsh Harrier
41. Bee Eater
42. Woodchat Shrike
43. Grey Wagtail
44. Mallard
45. Robin
46. Coot
47. Little Grebe
48. Cuckoo
49. Blackcap
50. Cirl Bunting
51. Serin
52. Raven
53. Crag Martin
54. Little Tern
55. Curlew Sandpiper
56. Audouin's Gull
57. Moustached Warbler
58. Blue Rock Thrust
59. Eleanora's Falcon
60. Red Kite
61. Great Spotted Woodpecker
62. Jackdaw
63. Pied Flycatcher
64. Woodlark
65. Citril Finch
66. Skylark
67. Chaffinch
68. Winchat
69. Little Ringed Plover
70. Horned (Shore) Lark
71. Barbary partridge
72. Whitethroat
73. Bar-tailed Godwit
74. Cattle Egret
75. Slender Billed Gull
76. Zitting Cisticola (Fan Tailed Warbler)
Above: A Dunlin. Excellent close up views of Dulin and Sanderling were found on the beach (they prefered the small rocky outcrops in the shallow water).
Above: A Sanderling
Above: Greater Flamingo. Views of these birds were at distance only. I recorded them at two locations.
Above: A Serin. Whilst looking for a 'yellow bird' I didn't recognise, my dad called me over, saying 'Edward, look at this, what's this?' - a regular occurance but on this occasion it produced a pine marten! I was unable to get a photo because it moved too quickly. I never did locate that 'yellow bird' but shortly after and before we drove away, I located my first ever Cirl Bunting that flew away shortly before I got the camera ready to take a photo. Typical!
However, we were trying to locate a WWF reserve (I didn't know they did reserves) called Monte Arcuso. Shortly after arriving here I did locate a 'yellow bird' that proved to be the above Serin. Having located one, I found it easier to see more and they seem to be quite common in Sardinia. There was one on the hotel grounds. Their song is a bit like the Corn Bunting 'jangle' but they don't finish the 'jangle' with the same flourish.
Above: Dung beetles. Monte Arcuso has a stunningly beuatiful landscape, deep ravines and high mountains with challenging walks (especially whilst carrying telescope, binoculars and camera!). Plenty of cliffs. Here I also identified my first ever Crag Martins.
Above: Best bird of the holiday - Eleanora's Falcon. I saw 6 of these very rare breeding birds in one field of view in my binoculars. The photograph is a snapshot of a digiscope video I took. We spent a lovely 2 hours watching these birds hunt and play in the wind on the island of St. Pietro. I will never be sure, but it is possible that I saw an Orphean Warbler whilst sitting & wathcing the Eleanora's but I didn't get enough of a view to confirm.
There will be more to come!
Brothers, past and present
Above: The Blue Brothers (Mark is on the right)
Above: I'm on the left, Mark is on the right. This was taken in our back garden in Hutton Rudby, North Yorks.
Above: Eerie!
Above: Sleepy boys!
Monday, 2 May 2011
Constant Effort visit 1 - Priory Country Park
Sunday 1st May was the start of the CES season - it was sunny all morning. Chilly first thing with the wind picking up intensity throughout the morning probably resulting in a reduced catch in the second half.
18 birds of 12 species: New (retrap)
Bullfinch 3 (0)
Cetti's Warbler 0 (1)
Dunnock 2 (0)
Wren 0 (1)
Whitethroat 1 (0)
Reed Warbler 1 (0)
Blackbird 0 (2)
Garden Warbler 1 (1)
Goldfinch 1 (0)
Blue Tit 0 (1)
Chiff Chaff 2 (0)
Blackcap 1 (0)
Interesting info on some of these birds:
1 female Blackbird was born in 2008.
1 male Blackbird was born 2007 (first caught in 2008)
1 returning male Garden Warbler was ringed as an adult in 2010
The female Bullfinch's have well developed brood patch's
A male Blackcap with a false brood patch.
Above: A male Blackcap
Above: A Chiff Chaff
Above: Cetti's Warbler
A ringing demonstration was held for the 'Dawn Chorus' Walkers who were treated to close up views of the Cetti's Warbler (first ringed in April in the park).
18 birds of 12 species: New (retrap)
Bullfinch 3 (0)
Cetti's Warbler 0 (1)
Dunnock 2 (0)
Wren 0 (1)
Whitethroat 1 (0)
Reed Warbler 1 (0)
Blackbird 0 (2)
Garden Warbler 1 (1)
Goldfinch 1 (0)
Blue Tit 0 (1)
Chiff Chaff 2 (0)
Blackcap 1 (0)
Interesting info on some of these birds:
1 female Blackbird was born in 2008.
1 male Blackbird was born 2007 (first caught in 2008)
1 returning male Garden Warbler was ringed as an adult in 2010
The female Bullfinch's have well developed brood patch's
A male Blackcap with a false brood patch.
Above: A male Blackcap
Above: A Chiff Chaff
Above: Cetti's Warbler
A ringing demonstration was held for the 'Dawn Chorus' Walkers who were treated to close up views of the Cetti's Warbler (first ringed in April in the park).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
