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
