Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: September 2011

Ringing on 10th Sep 2011

Christine Flint and Nigel Hudson finished there holiday yesterday and can I just say a big Thank You! to Chris and Nigel for all there efforts during the last week, trying hard to get some birds ringed during a horrible week, weather wise. Hopefully they had a good time and we look forward to seeing them down at the Observatory next year!
Today though Tim Bagworth started his holiday for a week, he is planning to get some ringing done on the reserve during his holiday, so today Tim was ringing at the Observatory whilst Mick Briggs was ringing at Aylmer Avenue with a brief visit from George mid morning.
The combined catch for the day was 84 birds processed including 62 New birds and 22 Retraps.

The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (23/0) Swallow, (6/0) House Martin, (0/1) Dunnock, (1/1) Robin, (2/0) Reed Warbler, (1/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (0/2) Whitethroat, (8/1) Blackcap, (5/0) Chiffchaff, (1/0) Willow Warbler, (4/1) Goldcrest, (1/0) Pied Flyctacher, (1/5) Blue Tit, (0/1) Great Tit, (0/1) Chaffinch, (9/8) Greenfinch and (0/1) Goldfinch.

The Pied Flyctacher was at Aylmer Avenue and was the first of the year and was well overdue! the last time that we didn't catch a Pied Flycatcher in August was 2002! Other than that, it was a fairly unremarkable day with a pretty much standard type of catch for the time of year.

Also reported on the reserve on the 10th September 2011 were -
x1 Pectoral Sandpiper (Mere associating with a Dunlin)
x1 Curlew Sandpiper
x1 Green Sandpiper
x10 Whimbrel
x4 Snipe
x72 Golden Plover
x13 Greenshank
x1 Spotted Redshank
x6 Ruff
x25 Little Egret (21 on Tennyson's Lagoon)
x7 Spoonbill (Jackson's Lagoon)
x20 Common Tern
x200 Sandwich Tern
x20 Gannet (South)
x1 Guillemot
x1 Razorbill
x8 Artic Skua
x2 Great Skua (South)
x1 Manx Shearwater (South)
x1 Red Throated Diver
x8 Swift (South)
x3000 Swallow (South)
x2000 House Martin (South)
x40 Sand Martin
x500+ Meadow Pipit (South)
x2 Grey Wagtail (South)
x40 Yellow Wagtail (South)
x6 Lesser Redpoll (South)
x250 Siskin (South)
x60 Tree Sparrow (South)
x12 Crossbill (South)
x1 Spotted Flycatcher
x2 Wheatear

Reed Warbler ringed on the 10th September 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Chiffchaff ringed on the 10th September 2011.
These have finally started to arrive in decent numbers now from the continent.
Photo - Mick Briggs

The first Pied Flycatcher of 2011 ringed on the 10th September.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Ringing on 9th Sep 2011

Today was the last day of Christine and Nigels ringing holiday and it made up somewhat for the lack lustered weather during the week. George was again ringing at Aylmer Avenue. The majority of the birds caught were at the Observatory and the total processed was 121. There were 102 New birds and 19 Retraps.

The combined catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (9/1) Swallow, (1/0) Tree Pipit, (23/0) Meadow Pipit, (0/3) Wren, (8/1) Dunnock, (8/0) Robin, (1/0) Reed Warbler, (0/1) Barred Warbler, (4/1) Lesser Whitethroat, (11/2) Whitethroat, (24/1) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (3/0) Willow Warbler, (3/0) Goldcrest, (0/2) Blue Tit, (0/2) Great Tit, (1/0) Chaffinch, (2/4) Greenfinch, (1/1) Goldfinch and (2/0) Reed Bunting.

Amazingly the Barred Warbler was recaught today by Christine and Nigel, still close to where it was originally caught, although it probably shouldn't be too much of a surprise with the weather inbetween capture dates being absolutely horrendous!
Barred Warblers that are caught at Gib do tend to have a habit of sticking around for a while, one caught on the 31st Aug 1983 was again retrapped on the 2nd and 4th Sep, whilst more recently there was a bird caught on the 28th Sep 2010 was caught two days later on the 30th Sep. Presumably these were birds that had recently crossed the North Sea and so were feeding up before moving on south.

The Tree Pipit that Christine and Nigel caught today was the first since the 22nd August 2009! and only the 16th since 1997. There have still only been 114 (Including this bird) ever ringed at the Observatory and so are still incredible scarce as a species in the hand at Gib. Well done to Chritsine and Nigel for this bird on the last day of their holiday!
Also today Christine and Nigel were lucky enough to get their hands on a highly unusual Robin which had 4 leucistic primaries, 3 leucistic primary coverts and a leucistic chin! A striking bird that would certainly cause panic amongst any birdwatcher that spotted it, just briefly! See the photos below

Also reported on the 9th September 2011 were -
x1 Osprey
x6 Artic Skua
x1 Black Tern
x9 Spoonbill
x1 Pectoral Sandpiper (Still on the Mere at 7pm this evening in the company of Dunlin)
x1 Little Stint
x5500+ Meadow Pipit (South)
x3 Tree Pipit (South)
x1 Grey Wagtail (South)
x1 Whinchat
x1 Wheatear
x1 Spotted Flyctacher
x100 Siskin (South)

Retrapped Barred Warbler on the 9th September 2011.
Photo - George Gregory

Partly leucistic Robin ringed on the 9th September 2011.
Photo - Christine Flint.

Partly leucistic Robin ringed on the 9th September 2011.
A striking bird on an Autumn morning!
Photo - Christine Flint.

Ringing on 8th Sep 2011

At last, the incessant wind finally lifted briefly this morning allowing George to get some ringing done at Aylmer Avenue whilst Christine Flint and Nigel Judson were over at the Observatory trying their best to make up for two days completly blown out during the week!
The combined catch included 109 birds processed, made up of 79 New birds and 30 Retraps.

The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Green Woodpecker, (9/0) Meadow Pipit, (2/1) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (1/0) Sedge Warbler, (4/1) Lesser Whitethroat, (8/2) Whitethroat, (10/1) Blackcap, (14/0) Chiffchaff, (10/0) Willow Warbler, (4/1) Goldcrest, (0/3) Long Tailed Tit, (0/2) Blue Tit, (0/2) Great Tit, (0/1) Treecreeper, (3/2) Chaffinch, (8/10) Greenfinch, (3/4) Goldfinch and (1/0) Linnet.

The Green Woodpecker was the first since 2008 and only the 10th ever! It was caught at the ever steady feeding station at Aylmer Avenue and really goes to show the value of this site for generating records of unusual species on the reserve. The last Green Woodpecker caught was also taken from a net at the feeding station. This species is often missed by birders on the reserve as they seldom stay around with only small areas of tree available to them but are ardent admirers of a free meal!

Also reported on the 8th September 2011 were -
x5 Greenshank
x164 Black Tailed Godwit
x1 Curlew Sandpiper
x1 Pectoral Sandpiper (On the Mere at 4pm - showed for just 10 mins)

Green Woodpecker ringed on the 8th September 2011.
Just the 10th for the observatory ever!
Photo - George Gregory.

Ringing on 7th Sep 2011

Christine and Nigel managed to get some nets open today over at the Observatory but not all of them due to the continuing 15/20 mph winds.
By the time they gave up at lunch they had managed to get 22 birds processed including 20 New birds and just 2 Retraps.

The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (2/0) Meadow Pipit, (3/0) Dunnock, (1/0) Sedge Warbler, (0/1) Lesser Whitethroat, (1/0) Whitethroat, (5/0) Blackcap, (2/0) Chiffchaff, (5/0) Willow Warbler, (1/0) Goldcrest and (0/1) Great Tit.

Hopefully our visiting ringers will get a break in the weather before their holiday finishes on the 9th!

Also reported on the 7th September 2011 were -
x300 Meadow Pipit (South)
x100 Tree Sparrow (South)
x130 Siskin (South)
x2 Grey Wagtail
x1 Marsh Harrier
Good numbers of Yellow Wagtail, Crossbill and Alba Wagtails were noted moving South.

Reported 6th Sep 2011

There was no ringing on the 5th or the 6th due to the 30mph winds blowing through the reserve, very bad luck for Christine and Nigel who are staying at the Field Station on holiday from the Charnwood Ringing Group.

Reported on the reserve on the 5th September 2011 -
x1 Osprey (South)
x7 Swift (South)
x130 Siskin (South)
x1 Ruff
x1 Short Eared Owl
x1 Barn Owl
x16 Yellow Wagtail
x6 Spoonbill (Jacksons)
x7 Shoveler
x7 Gadwall
However reported on the 6th September 2011 were -
x2 Common Swift
x2 Common Sandpiper
x1 Green Sandpiper
x3 Ruff
x2 Spoonbill
x1 Great Skua
x1 Osprey (South - the third in just over a week!)

Ringing on 4th Sep 2011

Well today really was the best day so far this year with a double effort day under way and a break in the weather, there was Mick Briggs and Dave Vincent ringing at Aylmer Avenue for a long morning session whilst over at the Observatory, George occasionally helped out visiting ringers Christine Flint and Nigel Judson who are from the "Charnwood Ringing Group" and are visiting for a weeks holiday ringing. They don't have very far to travel each day as they are staying at the Field Station!
You can check out the Charnwood Ringing Group Blog at - http://charnwoodringers.blogspot.com/

At the Observatory there were 131 birds processed including 117 New birds and 14 Retraps whilst at Aylmer Avenue there were 190 birds processed including 138 New birds and 52 Retraps. This gave a combined catch total of an impressive 321 birds processed! including 255 New birds and 66 Retraps.

The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Wood Pigeon, (114/1) Swallow, (41/0) House Martin, (1/0) Meadow Pipit, (1/0) Yellow Wagtail, (1/3) Wren, (4/3) Dunnock, (3/1) Robin, (1/0) Wheatear, (0/1) Blackbird, (1/0) Barred Warbler, (9/1) Lesser Whitethroat, (3/3) Whitethroat, (1/0) Garden Warbler, (25/4) Blackcap, (2/1) Chiffchaff, (5/3) Willow Warbler, (7/0) Goldcrest, (0/4) Long Tailed Tit, (0/2) Coal Tit, (4/6) Blue Tit, (0/5) Great Tit, (1/1) Treecreeper, (2/7) Chaffinch, (21/15) Greenfinch, (5/3) Goldfinch, (0/2) Linnet and (2/0) Reed Bunting.

The Barred warbler was clearly the Star bird of the day, being the first of the year and the first since 28th Sep 2010. It is the earliest since 2006 when there were two caught in August. A nice surprise at the the start of weeks holiday for Christine and Nigel!
Besides all the other cracking birds processed on the 4th Sep, perhaps the most impressive besides the excellent Swallow and House Martin catch was the surprising number of Blackcaps on site, with 29 different birds caught during the day at two relatively small sites in comparison to the size of the reserve, the number on the reserve as a whole must of numbered in the hundreds!

Also reported on the 4th September 2011 were -
x1 Firecrest (East Dunes)
x5 Curlew Sandpiper
x19 Bar Tailed Godwit
x65 Golden Plover
x2 Snipe
x1 Guillemot
x1 Red Throated Diver
x7 Gannet (South)
x10 Spoonbill (Yesterday evening, flew out into the Wash)
x1 Red Throated Diver
x1 Tawny Owl
x1 Marsh Harrier
x60+ Siskin
x20 Tree Sparrow
x2 Wheatear
x1 Redstart
x50+ Yellow Wagtail (South)
x2000 Swallow (South)
x500 House Martin (South)
x3 Sand Martin (South)
x400 Meadow Pipit (South)
x10 Goldcrest

Swallows migrating South during the very busy 4th September 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

The first Barred Warbler of 2011, ringed on the 4th September 2011.
Photo - Christine Flint

Barred Warbler undertail coverts on the 4th September 2011.
Photo - Christine Flint

Ringing on 3rd Sep 2011

Another miserable day, weather wise with a howling wind from the get go. George managed to open just a couple of nets at the Observatory in the morning whilst Mick Briggs tried to open a couple of nets at Aylmer Avenue in the afternoon once the worst of the wind had died down. The result for the day was just 9 birds processed, all of them were New birds!

The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (6/0) Swallow, (1/0) Dunnock, (1/0) Lesser Whitethroat and (1/0) Willow Warbler.

There was a major push of Swallows through the reserve through out much of the day but catching in the high winds was pratically impossible, it is often the case with hirundines enjoying a brisk head wind into which they can fly south.

Ringing on 2nd Sep 2011

Chris Hansell was back down again today, ringing with George at the Observatory first thing before moving over to Aylmer Avenue for an afternoon session on his own. The combined sites catch was 99 birds processed including 64 New birds and 35 Retraps.

The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (16/0) Swallow, (4/0) House Martin, (5/0) Meadow Pipit, (0/1) Wren, (1/0) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (0/3) Whitethroat, (2/0) Willow Warbler, (0/7) Blue Tit, (3/11) Great Tit, (1/0) Tree Sparrow, (2/2) Chaffinch, (18/7) Greenfinch and (11/4) Goldfinch.

Also reported on the 2nd September 2011 were -
x1 Temmincks Stint
x2 Curlew Sandpiper
x14 Golden Plover
x23 Little Egrets
x23 Avocet
x2 Snipe
x1 Ruff
x11 Greenshank
x200+ Curlew
x40,000 Knot (High tide)
x7 Grey Partridge
x1 Hobby
x3 Short Eared Owl
x2 Marsh Harrier
x1 Kingfisher
x3 Tree Pipit (South)
x1 Whinchat
x2 Grey Wagtails
x2 Chiffchaff
x3 Lesser Whitethroat
x3 Blackcap
x11 Tree Sparrow
x1 Treecreeper
x1 Coal Tit
x1 Lesser Redpoll

Ringing on 1st Sep 2011

George was back at the Observatory today but results were not impressive and not how we would of liked to see September begin. There were just 8 birds processed including 5 New birds and 3 Retraps.

The catch was made up thus (New/Retraps) - (1/0) Swallow, (1/3) Whitethroat, (2/0) Blackcap and (1/0) Willow Warbler.

Also reported on the reserve on the 1st September 2011 were -
x1 Whinchat
x2 Grey Wagtail
x17 Yellow Wagtail
x10 Spoonbill (Jackson's Marsh)
x10,000 Knot (High tide)
x250 Curlew (High tide)
x2 Marsh Harrier
x14 Grey Partridge

Ringing on 31st Aug 2011

Chris Hansell was back down again today, ringing with George over at the Observatory. 68 birds were processed including 62 New birds and 6 Retraps.

The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (40/0) Swallow, (2/0) House Martin, (11/0) Meadow Pipit, (0/1) Wren, (0/1) Dunnock, (1/0) Robin, (0/1) Redstart, (1/1) Whitethroat, (1/1) Blackcap, (2/0) Willow Warbler, (1/0) Coal Tit, (2/0) Goldfinch, (0/1) Linnet and (1/0) Reed Bunting.

Well done Chris and George, none to shabby at all, a good catch to round off the last day of August 2011. Next stop September!

Also reported on the 31st August 2011 -
x5 Great Skua (North)
x10 Artic Skua (8 North)
x1 Long Tailed Skua (Probable flew North at distance with an Artic Skua)
x5 Little Gull (South including 1 Adult)
x1 Black Tern (Juvenile South)
x10 Gannet (North)
x60 Sandwich Tern (South)

Ringing on 30th Aug 2011

George was back in action today, over at Observatory and was amply rewarded with 59 birds processed including 50 New birds and 9 Retraps.

The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (20/0) Swallow, (1/0) Meadow Pipit, (1/0) Yellow Wagtail, (0/1) Wren, (2/3) Dunnock, (4/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (4/2) Whitethroat, (3/2) Blackcap, (2/0) Willow Warbler, (0/1) Great Tit, (10/0) Tree Sparrow, (2/0) Goldfinch and (1/0) Linnet.

The 10 New Tree Sparrows were impressive and brings the total to 25 New Tree Sparrows in just two days! To put this into context, we don't always ring double figures of Tree Sparrows at Gib in a whole year!

Ringing on 29th Aug 2011

The last Bank Holiday of the year meant a double effort day today with Tim Bagworth ringing at Aylmer Avenue on his day off whilst Mick Briggs and Chris Hansell were ringing at the Observatory. The combined catch for the day was just 53 birds processed including 43 New birds and 10 Retraps.

The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Sparrowhawk, (2/0) Swallow, (4/0) Yellow Wagtail, (0/1) Wren, (3/1) Robin, (1/0) Redstart, (1/0) Blackbird, (1/0) Sedge Warbler, (1/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (0/3) Whitethroat, (1/0) Blackcap, (8/2) Willow Warbler, (3/0) Goldcrest, (0/1) Long Tailed Tit, (1/0) Coal Tit, (1/0) Blue Tit, (0/1) Treecreeper, (15/0) Tree Sparrow, (0/1) Greenfinch.

The most significant catch of the day were the 15 Tree Sparrows, including 12 in one net on the Storm Ridge, these are migrating birds moving south along the coast and it is not often they pause in the dunes during their flight thyrough the reserve. I am not sure oif the last time that 15 were caught in a day at Gib but I would think it must be back in the 1970's!
The four Yellow Wagtails were also all caught in one net on the Storm Ridge choosing to alight in the scrub on their journey south and then getting caught in the Storm Ridge nets. They constitute the 3rd to 6th Yellow Wagtails caught this year.
The Redstart is just the second of the year following on from one on the 15th August. Hopefully there will be plenty more during September?

Also reported on the 29th Aug 2011 were -
x2 Whinchat
x2 Wheatear
x40 Yellow Wagtail (South)
x400 Meadow Pipit (South)
x2 Spotted Flycatcher
x1 Wryneck (Outer Dunes)
x1 Red Kite
x3 Buzzard
x1 probable Goshawk (Alighting on Heligoland Trap briefly! witnessed by four observers who argued about the identification. It has to be pointed out though that Chris Hansell surveys this species as part of his job and is highly experienced with the species and was happy that it was a Goshawk.)
x2 Marsh Harrier
x5 Spoonbill
x1 Short Eared Owl
x65 Black Tailed Godwit
x25,000 Knot (On high tide)
x2 Green Sandpiper
x1 Swift (South)
x1 Lesser Redpoll
x4 Siskin
x150 Tree Sparrow (South)
x28 Linnet

One of four Yellow Wagtails ringed at the Observatory on the 29th Aug 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

A trio of Yellow Wagtails ringed at the Observatory on the 29th Aug 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

A trio of Yellow Wagtails ringed at the Observatory on the 29th Aug 2011.
Note the varying ammount of yellow on these birds that are all this years males.
Photo - Mick Briggs

Female Sparrowhawk ringed at the Observatory on the 29th Aug 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

C.E.S.No12 28th Aug 2011

Finally comes the day of the last C.E.S. session of the year, and to be honest it doesn't seem like ten minutes since the first session of the year back on the 8th of May. A full report of the years C.E.S. sessions will be posted at a later date.
Meanwhile George was over at the Observatory ringing with Chris Hansell, still on his holidays from Filey. The combined result was 183 birds processed including 105 New birds and 78 Retraps.

At the Observatory there were 36 birds processed including 32 New birds and 4 Retraps, whilst at Aylmer Avenue, all the nets were in use being operated by Mick Briggs and Dave Vincent, and it certainly paid results with 147 birds processed including 73 New birds and 74 Retraps.

The combined catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Grey Partridge, (9/0) Swallow, (2/3) Wren, (3/4) Dunnock, (4/0) Robin, (0/1) Blackbird, (1/0) Reed Warbler, (0/1) Lesser Whitethroat, (9/2) Whitethroat, (3/5) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (29/1) Willow Warbler, (2/0) Goldcrest, (1/0) Spotted Flycatcher, (0/3) Long Tailed Tit, (0/1) Coal Tit, (1/19) Blue Tit, (2/17) Great Tit, (0/1) Treecreeper, (1/0) Magpie, (0/3) Chaffinch, (27/15) Greenfinch, (8/2) Goldfinch and (1/0) Linnet.

The Grey Partridge was the first since two birds caught last year on the 13th Sep whilst it was actually just the 27th for the Observatory ever! and only the thrid since the 1970's! Definetely a star bird of 2011.
The Spotted Flycatcher meanwhile was just the second of 2011 whilst the Treecreeper was a retrap of a bird originally ringed on the 20th Aug 2011.

Also reported on the 28th August 2011 were -
x3000 Swallow (South)
x4000 House Martin (South)
x300 Sand Martin (South)
x8 Swift (South)
x2 Redstart
x1 Pied Flycatcher
x1 Wheatear
x16 Yellow Wagtail (South)
x250 Meadow Pipit (South)
x1 Whinchat
x1 Cuckoo
x4 Crossbill
x3 Turtle Dove
x1 Curlew Sandpiper
x1 Osprey (South)
x1 Marsh Harrier
x1 Hobby
x4 Sparrowhawk

Grey Partridge ringed on 28th Aug 2011.
Just the 27th for the Observatory ever and just the 3rd since the 1970's!
Photo - George Gregory.

Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher ringed on the 28th Aug 2011.
Just the second of 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs.

Ringing on 27th Aug 2011

After no ringing yesterday, today there was at last a break in the weather and George was quick to take advantage of it, opening the nets at the Observatory at first light. Today he had help from visiting ringer Chris Hansell of the Filey Ringing Group. In the couple of hours they had before the wind picked up making netting impossible they managed to process 28 birds including 18 New birds and 10 Retraps.

The mornings catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Swallow, (1/0) Yellow Wagtail, (0/1) Wren, (0/2) Dunnock, (1/0) Blackbird, (1/0) Sedge Warbler, (3/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (3/3) Whitethroat, (1/0) Garden Warbler, (3/0) Blackcap, (4/0) Willow Warbler and (0/4) Long Tailed Tit.

Not a bad couple of hours then, hopefully this will continue when the weather starts to improve?

Also reported on the 27th August 2011 -
x2 Whinchat
x1 Wheatear
x4 Pied Flyctacher
x2 Goldcrest
x1 Peregrine
x6 Spoonbill
x18 Linnet
x1 Crossbill
x2 Marsh Harrier
x3 Yellow Wagtail
x35 Golden Plover

Ringing on 25th Aug 2011

A terrible result today with Ross Ahmed visiting for a session ringing with George. The nets were opened at the Observatory first thing but were then closed on the first net round as the heavens opened! The result was that just one bird was caught - a New Whitethroat.

Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow?

Ringing on 24th Aug 2011

Ringing at the Observatory today provided George with 38 birds to process including 29 New birds and 9 Retraps. The highlight today though was the first "Rare" of the Autumn in the form of a stunning Icterine Warbler! found in a mist net at the Obs. There was also a young Grasshopper Warbler of origin unknown along with two Garden Warblers.

The mornings catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (6/0) Swallow, (1/0) Meadow Pipit, (1/1) Wren, (1/1) Dunnock, (1/0) Grasshopper Warbler, (2/0) Reed Warbler, (1/0) Icterine Warbler, (6/0) Lesser Whitethroat, (2/2) Whitethroat, (2/0) Garden Warbler, (4/0) Blackcap, (2/2) Willow Warbler, (0/2) Long Tailed Tit and (0/1) Great Tit.

The Icterine Warbler was the first since 1996! and was just the 24th for the Observatory ever! Well done George for this one, it is just reward for all the completly voluntary effort that George puts in, ringing at the Observatory pratically every day.
The Grasshopper Warbler was the third for the year following on from two singing adult males trapped in the early part of the summer (which will hopefully be retrapped back on their site next year?).
The Garden Warblers meanwhile were the 9th and 10th of the year and puts us well on the way towards another cracking year for this species at thye Observatory. They traditionally turn up at Gib in their biggest numbers in late September.

Icterine Warbler ringed at the Observatory on the 24th Aug 2011.
Just the 24th for the Obs ever!
Photo - George Gregory

Icterine Warbler ringed at the Observatory on the 24th Aug 2011.
Just reward for George's continous efforts - Well done George!
Photo - George Gregory.

Grasshopper Warbler ringed on the 24th Aug 2011.
The first caught this Autumn.
Photo - George Gregory.

Reported 23rd Aug 2011

Reported on the 23rd Aug 2011 were -

x6 Spoonbill
x6 Marsh Harrier
x7 Grey Partridge
x180 Swallow
x2 Swift
x1 Whinchat
x1 Common Redstart
x25 Goldfinch
x73 Black Tailed Godwit
x3 Green Sandpiper
x17 Greenshank

Ringing on 22nd Aug 2011

George was ringing over at the Observatory this morning and was rewarded with 34 birds processed including 33 New birds and just 1 Retrap (What a great Retrap/New bird ratio!).

The mornings catch was made up (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Sparrowhawk, (16/0) Swallow, (2/0) Wren, (2/0) Dunnock, (4/1) Whitethroat, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (2/0) Willow Warbler, (1/0) Spotted Flycatcher, (2/0) Blue Tit and (2/0) Tree Sparrow.

The Sparrowhawk was the fifth bird ringed this year whilst the Tree Sparrows were the sixth and seventh of the year. Hopefully this year we will later on in the Autumn get plenty more Tree Sparrows caught as they seem to enjoy landing in the mouth area of the Heligoland trap whilst flying south along the Storm Ridge!
The Spotted Flycatcher meanwhile was the first one of the year!

Reported on the reserve on the 22nd Aug 2011 were -

x250 Swallows (Hunting over Saltmarsh at lunchtime)
x50 House Martin
x1 Swift
x4 Wheatear
x1 Whinchat
x1 Green Woodpecker
x5 Turtle Dove,
x25 Yellow Wagtail
x300 Linnet
x4 Common Buzzard
x1 Marsh Harrier
x1 Kestrel
x26 Avocet
x23 Greenshank
x1 Aric Skua
x19 Mistle Thrush
x90 Golden Plover

C.E.S.No11 21st Aug 2011

Another double effort day today with George ringing at the Observatory and Mick Briggs and Dave Vincent completing session 11 of the C.E.S. at Aylmer Avenue with the other Aylmer nets open as well.
The result was fantastic with George netting 67 birds at the Obs including 65 New birds and just 2 Retraps. At Aylmer the result was even more impressive with 285 birds processed including 211 New birds and 74 Retraps.

The days catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/1) Sparrowhawk, (79/0) Swallow, (58/0) House Martin, (8/4) Wren, (0/4) Dunnock, (2/0) Robin, (3/0) Blackbird, (2/0) Reed Warbler, (5/1) Lesser Whitethroat, (7/4) Whitethroat, (13/2) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (45/4) Willow Warbler, (0/3) Long Tailed Tit, (1/0) Coal Tit, (6/21) Blue Tit, (0/13) Great Tit, (6/7) Chaffinch, (37/11) Greenfinch, (1/1) Goldfinch and (1/0) Linnet.

The retrap Sparrowhawk was caught at Aylmer Avenue and was originally ringed on the Storm Ridge on the 6th August this year so hadn't gone very far so far. This was probably one of this years chicks from Sykes Farm that we didn't discover untill they were branching out from the nest.
A storm front came through from the wash early morning and travelled along the coast without raining on the netting area at Aylmer Avenue, it did however force all the hirundines that were travelling over down to net level resulting in a cracking catch of Swallows and House Martins.
The Coal Tit at Aylmer Avenue was the ninth of the year.

Reported on the reserve on the 21st August 2011 were -

x5 Green Sandpiper
x4 Spotted Redshank
x16 Greenshank
x160 Black Tailed Godwit
x1 Pintail
x14 Artic Skua
x1 Med Gull
x8 Grey Partridge
x1 Common Buzzard
x1 Marsh Harrier
x5 Whinchat
x3 Wheatear
x1 Pied Flycatcher
x3000 House Martin (South)
x1000 Swallow (South)
x30 Swift (South)
x8 Crossbill

House Martin catching on the 21st August 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs

More House Martin catching on the 21st August 2011.
Photo - Mick Briggs