tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57728414473484494492024-03-19T08:48:53.045+00:00Stanford Ringing Group Blogchris hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18196703755332723849noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-10279837834197748352024-02-11T11:54:00.002+00:002024-02-13T18:24:24.342+00:00Kumlien's Gull- Second Record for the Site<p><i>Chris H, our resident Sightings Officer, continues to spot some unusual and exciting birds.</i> </p><p>Gulls! Not everyone’s cup of tea but they can actually create excitement (honestly) especially when a long-distance visitor arrives. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGxorYE97jtHXGXHIXgKzv1WJ9pF8qWWC26bkk_vuzZSN1ufzmIA_nNspdNu4bn4gU1Gu0l_wh0rXBGU8hdtXuyhJIE2-OneuqmZ_SSSSZXuFrozsgUrs9215fzZn5zewpi64GP-zcfJtan5oORVISs05MZ_pHCTQtC6GIbuscJA33rAfiqQ5FTRvBkQ/s320/IMG_5123.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="222" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGxorYE97jtHXGXHIXgKzv1WJ9pF8qWWC26bkk_vuzZSN1ufzmIA_nNspdNu4bn4gU1Gu0l_wh0rXBGU8hdtXuyhJIE2-OneuqmZ_SSSSZXuFrozsgUrs9215fzZn5zewpi64GP-zcfJtan5oORVISs05MZ_pHCTQtC6GIbuscJA33rAfiqQ5FTRvBkQ/s1600/IMG_5123.jpeg" width="222" /></a></div><p>As the new year kicked off, gull numbers at the roost were already on the increase. By the time the January 11th arrived I had already recorded the commoner species along with Caspian, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gull. Earlier in the day Ian Bartlett had found a second-winter Iceland Gull at nearby Shawell landfill site – a magnet for ‘white wingers’. I managed to see this bird just after it was found so that put me on high alert in the unlikely event it decided to roost at Stanford (last record here 2020). <br />When I arrived at the roost, the light was already relatively poor. Just after 15.30 I scanned some incoming gulls (from the direction of Shawell) and to my surprise picked up what looked like an Iceland Gull. I decided to stay on the bird with my binoculars to ensure I saw which part of the roost it came into – losing a bird in thousands of gulls is easy to do and there is no guarantee of re-finding especially in fading light.<br />I got the scope on it as soon as it settled and to my surprise realised it wasn’t Ian’s bird from earlier. In fact, the overall appearance was of a mucky, darkish looking bird, with an Iceland type jizz but obvious grey in the closed primaries. My mind instantly turned to Kumlien’s Gull, a sub species of Iceland Gull. I grabbed some video of the bird but distance and light were against me and the quality was poor. Also, there were no flight or open wing shots which would have helped with the identification. I then lost it and couldn’t re-find it by dark. Having shared the videos with several other birders (all to which I owe my thanks), no unanimous opinion of the bird’s identity could be reached. <br />I decided that it was worth trying to pick the bird up before the roost departed early the following day – a good decision as it turned out! I was on site in the dark and checking through the gulls as the light gradually improved. By just after 08.00 there were only a few gulls remaining – I was just about to leave when I re-checked a small group that was left and to my relief picked up the bird. The light was much better and whilst the bird still looked quite mucky the light was much better than the night before. I decided to digiscope it and it then became restless and took off. I was able to video the bird for a short period as it took off and flew east and from this was able to get some stills to confirm the bird’s identity. </p><p>It was indeed a Kumlien’s Gull, and most likely a second-winter identified by:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEDtwii4DiZY8tP4WGXdlNOWI9ADCAeKPmuSrO8H3h6OMhIOOdxcHvKEUO_oV-3VORR0WJmMzmNsvRjlI0HH63EnFKcN5DzPdZ899hefrturj0C6cv6AYkueD_FYY3aQp8TMinldhVJzYS3qq-_bUuYhJth7AO-z5-76dsjvMcgRD3nfaFaObW9mWZYU/s320/IMG_5124.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="205" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEDtwii4DiZY8tP4WGXdlNOWI9ADCAeKPmuSrO8H3h6OMhIOOdxcHvKEUO_oV-3VORR0WJmMzmNsvRjlI0HH63EnFKcN5DzPdZ899hefrturj0C6cv6AYkueD_FYY3aQp8TMinldhVJzYS3qq-_bUuYhJth7AO-z5-76dsjvMcgRD3nfaFaObW9mWZYU/s1600/IMG_5124.jpeg" width="205" /></a> • The outer primaries have a grey/brown wash, contrasting with pale inner webs . Noticeable on the water and in flight as can be seen from the images. Flight views were key to clinching the identification. <br /> • Overall structure and jizz more in line with Iceland than Glaucous with the bill being bi-coloured and at the Iceland end of the spectrum. Based on my experience I would say the bird looked slightly more robust than a typical Iceland, which often look quite dainty. However, there is a lot of variation so this can be subjective. <br /> • This bird was darker than a typical Iceland Gull of a similar age but again there is variation.<br />Kumlien's Gull breeds on Baffin Island and Southampton Island in the Canadian Territory of Nunavut (previously part of the Northwest Territories) and in northwest Quebec in the vicinity of Ungava Bay. Outside the breeding season it is found on the North American east coast from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence & Newfoundland south to Virginia and in the Great Lakes region as far west as Minnesota.<br />This is the second record for Stanford, the fourth record for Northants and the 10th record for Leicestershire and Rutland. <br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-84808823932810368802024-02-11T11:35:00.004+00:002024-02-13T18:21:13.903+00:002023 Report Published<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas7YAzIwJ7kr-ffXRNQfciOJ03_SstoLcVc7-Wtm18BZTRXvPOBbzt6ljkDVsjcvdd03ng9TQq_JItN5rDz3lt6XydjHzHLSwrEaSnjC0Kxc8XcrESEb5IkF1JjKCPAckZlxeHVwlVPndh0eQO9w_WkhjXhwcjzFiYSfO9v2Yzkdhqvq35wT4-UCwR6g/s1421/tempFileForShare_20240213-181733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas7YAzIwJ7kr-ffXRNQfciOJ03_SstoLcVc7-Wtm18BZTRXvPOBbzt6ljkDVsjcvdd03ng9TQq_JItN5rDz3lt6XydjHzHLSwrEaSnjC0Kxc8XcrESEb5IkF1JjKCPAckZlxeHVwlVPndh0eQO9w_WkhjXhwcjzFiYSfO9v2Yzkdhqvq35wT4-UCwR6g/s320/tempFileForShare_20240213-181733.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>The annual report is now available on: <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/srgstats/2023-annrep.pdf">http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/srgstats/2023-annrep.pdf</a><br /></p><p>Enjoy!<br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-58327779546067149942024-02-08T20:04:00.000+00:002024-02-08T20:04:59.460+00:00A Year in the Life of a Bird Ringer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ6Z5CLyzy-K0fPxgUzI-JASXWluUffBcDdDSLhUvuuNvhQmlI_iEy3yAPt2fMFVp3aElz1Rwireti3Ex8JEqD6c0a91OIzl2wiLTWfcPclhCCm9bITPn5llwk2Ioi0B4GI35h9qvoTFa2Lx0S93JVJhP2EFRMeBGVHlh-ccnwPC6Ubb_XgyuWpp90lz9/s1013/20230922_213927.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1013" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ6Z5CLyzy-K0fPxgUzI-JASXWluUffBcDdDSLhUvuuNvhQmlI_iEy3yAPt2fMFVp3aElz1Rwireti3Ex8JEqD6c0a91OIzl2wiLTWfcPclhCCm9bITPn5llwk2Ioi0B4GI35h9qvoTFa2Lx0S93JVJhP2EFRMeBGVHlh-ccnwPC6Ubb_XgyuWpp90lz9/s320/20230922_213927.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wryneck</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">2023 was a
fantastic year for the Stanford Ringing Group and once more we beat previous
records individual species ringed as well as the total number of birds ringed
overall. The teamwork has been terrific and paid dividends. Personally, 2023
was also a key year for me as a ringer with many highlights.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">January
through to March saw a large area of blackthorn and willow at Stanford being
cleared to allow grasses and scrub to regenerate and suitable habitat for
migrants to use for nest building. I always enjoy the hard work and camaraderie
that this entails. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was also delighted
to finally have my own site to use as a C-ringer at the Kelham Bridge Reserve
owned by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Ringing as a group builds
knowledge but the solo catching and ringing of birds builds confidence and a
deeper understanding. I was also fortunate to have the advice of Nigel Judson
who had previously ringed at the site and the help of LRWT volunteers to clear
some of the net rides. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ringing at
my site alone without support in January was exciting and at first a little
nerve racking. Winter ringing is a cold activity with few birds in the nets.
However, on my second session in late January I was delighted to catch a Willow tit. It was interesting going through the process of looking for the
distinguishing features and taking biometrics to verify that this was indeed a
Willow tit and not the almost identical Marsh tit. It is the only verified
record of the species at Kelham Bridge for the past two years, although
previously it was known to breed at the site.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9TmxfmDfWNpsizUTPonY5UKr_ZiOENYxOi44qqE4OVgZbZC4Eu0IlgC8K0pseXpmPRTvJY6G-H1GixiUvj0hAWhJM0fGZely8DFw2L_23gnfTWunoymhmabx8E7IyYWixuoRS-yLEj6Z3cTaz1sciIWWZpMc8lI7WGloqrvmr64WrGA0fmPTuQwsVajJ/s2576/20230127_122929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="1932" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9TmxfmDfWNpsizUTPonY5UKr_ZiOENYxOi44qqE4OVgZbZC4Eu0IlgC8K0pseXpmPRTvJY6G-H1GixiUvj0hAWhJM0fGZely8DFw2L_23gnfTWunoymhmabx8E7IyYWixuoRS-yLEj6Z3cTaz1sciIWWZpMc8lI7WGloqrvmr64WrGA0fmPTuQwsVajJ/w240-h320/20230127_122929.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow tit at Kelham Bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kelham was
proving a great site in the winter for birds such as Redpoll, Reed bunting,
winter thrushes, and the ubiquitous Blue tits, Great tits, Wrens and Robins.
Slowly the number of species I was ringing at the site was increasing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuW4LW5c9PhiI0kjMVCSbeLwWDW5rQhRB63CSphDtDvIpsx3uy_QSBP5GXpTHFroaByBaPyCqaiAQzKd3gFnbui7ErZt51CgOlKGraAWbS-fcLJud4wn50sSTWVHqpBfKvZyDpib8LLDmyXPVKc22HVFbnZuwjtMJFfnvO1dGcZLlsdDtA3UFQF9WLc_j/s4624/20230106_113635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuW4LW5c9PhiI0kjMVCSbeLwWDW5rQhRB63CSphDtDvIpsx3uy_QSBP5GXpTHFroaByBaPyCqaiAQzKd3gFnbui7ErZt51CgOlKGraAWbS-fcLJud4wn50sSTWVHqpBfKvZyDpib8LLDmyXPVKc22HVFbnZuwjtMJFfnvO1dGcZLlsdDtA3UFQF9WLc_j/s320/20230106_113635.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Bullfinch, Kelham</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The winter
season is a good time for ringing waders and, in March, I joined the Wash Wader
Research Group for the first time for a weekend. WWRG run regular cannon
netting and mist netting weekends. The large team is composed of experienced
wader ringers and lesser experienced participants. On Friday evening, after a
briefing from the team organisers, everyone set out after dinner to set up the
cannon nets at Heacham Beach ready for the high tide early the next morning. It
takes skill and experience to align the small cannons so that when they are
fired the net traps birds safely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before dawn
we all assembled once more at the beach and I was assigned the job of ‘long
stop’ to to keep walkers away until after the cannons were fired. As the tide
slowly came in a large group of Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed godwits were
nicely positioned moving in towards the nets. At about 8am all was set and ‘3-2-1’
the nets were fired, at which time everyone leaped up from behind the dunes to
gather in the nets and birds. The extraction and processing of the birds was
efficient and professional. Less experienced ringers ringed the birds, a second
team fitted colour rings and flags and the final team recorded biometrics. By
midday the last bird was processed and released. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8F4Ate4Mi5RlqWPwzqjxZmSHO6JsHgjdoJXQE-mwQfy07V2m2hf_TrHhx94HldlgVeCRLFT4Wi37igbzvxwGVV_56qyyC7tEoIjxIxEz7KzdgtasGt2sf4fE68WN7NLFT2VHrLsDWOE27l3MbKuj0JYhS7OKrS4gkvGFwfS52Y1-B1bvdOikek8gza11/s1600/IMG-20230312-WA0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1600" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8F4Ate4Mi5RlqWPwzqjxZmSHO6JsHgjdoJXQE-mwQfy07V2m2hf_TrHhx94HldlgVeCRLFT4Wi37igbzvxwGVV_56qyyC7tEoIjxIxEz7KzdgtasGt2sf4fE68WN7NLFT2VHrLsDWOE27l3MbKuj0JYhS7OKrS4gkvGFwfS52Y1-B1bvdOikek8gza11/s320/IMG-20230312-WA0017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatcher ringing with Wash Waders</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny04eaTQ_7bo_yrkHXIJ_aDqcP7L4zQsUZetsGht7Z9xpMnQ30cxKOu1K9w4x8cwQ2NmaDsl7fStogaQqGjd_w9jF_PVAfTiIdvbDwVYjBs3Z3cdglb55fIgRD13yxZbWDtSTF-5IJLYLEwGY3BFT2y6IJYufiB0PmlHHeCoPvatkJEpHgt7WQBqsUrF8/s1600/IMG-20230312-WA0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1600" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny04eaTQ_7bo_yrkHXIJ_aDqcP7L4zQsUZetsGht7Z9xpMnQ30cxKOu1K9w4x8cwQ2NmaDsl7fStogaQqGjd_w9jF_PVAfTiIdvbDwVYjBs3Z3cdglb55fIgRD13yxZbWDtSTF-5IJLYLEwGY3BFT2y6IJYufiB0PmlHHeCoPvatkJEpHgt7WQBqsUrF8/s320/IMG-20230312-WA0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar-tailed godwit</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was
no time for relaxing as the conditions were right to set mist nets for an
evening catch and by 6pm we were all heading out onto the marsh in the dark to
extract the birds. A large catch produced a mix of Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Bar-tailed
Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Knot and a single Curlew. Birds were
efficiently ringed and processed in a nearby cowshed and I clocked up five new
species. Thank you to all the ringers at Wash Waders for sharing their
knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the
spring, we see a steady change of bird species as winter birds depart north and
migrants return from their wintering grounds further south. Kelham Bridge feels
like a mini version of Stanford Reservoir and I caught a similar range of the
more common species such as Blackcap and Whitethroat. Aging returning migrant
birds requires a good understanding of the moult strategy of each species. Ringers
will be looking for different plumage characteristics and feather condition in
the spring than in the autumn. Also, as the spring unfolds, ringers look for
signs of breeding which can be used to identify the sex of a bird. There is a lot to learn!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As summer
approached, I applied for some overseas ringing experience. In 2022 I had had
the opportunity to demonstrate bird survey techniques and ringing to students at
the Knepp Estate in Sussex as part of an Operation Wallacea (OpWall) expedition.
In 2023 I applied for a volunteer post as Ornithologist for one of OpWall's overseas scientific expeditions. I was delighted to be contacted by the
Regional Manager for Honduras who asked if would I be interested in ringing in
Honduras? Wow!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tOOaf1X0A0vR99mWWjxecw-E4qD_jCnwLmM3N3cFjwEaZLju3LUYgzBtACS_xaP6yYhQNySlOw2tpKaPVBqTWgQywqleSRAFa9ae7rXPAVFQnXB0gDWtnCE_93vZnjR5918DtNdDVAwiSOvCRRzIz2BoRlzjLZsQVyi4CGgnm0LsSW0wyj9S8Awtf558/s4624/20230709_070309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tOOaf1X0A0vR99mWWjxecw-E4qD_jCnwLmM3N3cFjwEaZLju3LUYgzBtACS_xaP6yYhQNySlOw2tpKaPVBqTWgQywqleSRAFa9ae7rXPAVFQnXB0gDWtnCE_93vZnjR5918DtNdDVAwiSOvCRRzIz2BoRlzjLZsQVyi4CGgnm0LsSW0wyj9S8Awtf558/s320/20230709_070309.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collared trogon (female). <br />Cusuco National Park, Honduras</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Living in
Cusuco cloud forest in Honduras for 5 weeks during June and July was an amazing
experience. Living conditions were basic but the scientific community was
enthusiastic and everyone was happy to share their knowledge. As well as the bird team there were teams investigating mammals, invertebrates herpetofauna
(snakes, amphibians and reptiles), habitat, fungi and bats. There were seven
researchers in the bird team from the UK and Central America. Morning
activities consisted of either walking steep transects through the forest
recording all the birds we saw or heard alternating with mornings spent mist
netting and ringing. The iconic bird of the region was the Resplendent quetzal
which teased us with its fleeting appearances in the upper canopy. Mist netting
recorded forest species such as Collared trogon, Black-headed
nightingale-thrush, Slate-colored solitaire and a number of hummingbird
species. Although hummingbirds
may appear delicate, they are in fact quite robust when handled carefully. We
often gave them a drink of sugar water from a pipette to boost their energy
before release. I was also excited to extract and ring a Barred forest-falcon,
similar in size to a Sparrowhawk. As a ringing experience it was interesting
and slightly confusing to be ringing to the American system that records age by
moult cycle rather than calendar year. Bird surveys have been carried out in
Cusuco for 20 years and it was a privilege to contribute to the research as
well as train student scientists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDe7NEaL2-gom6UAxSpmUmPovC7qAOgiP5Yy0CVwJavWJ2xfMc9FwQ4S2Wns6id85uY8oXUa0ohQRtWkkhhD4yXlwEAg0IKGLFlfq2cZz-XgSUUfkz5wrXtYiAhLdu0Ef2TRlAECdUkXYAGLpENh1ZKgAF-KBD4g8zxjimHGGLuXxUXHL1MokkAg3f45g/s3302/20230710_092819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2254" data-original-width="3302" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDe7NEaL2-gom6UAxSpmUmPovC7qAOgiP5Yy0CVwJavWJ2xfMc9FwQ4S2Wns6id85uY8oXUa0ohQRtWkkhhD4yXlwEAg0IKGLFlfq2cZz-XgSUUfkz5wrXtYiAhLdu0Ef2TRlAECdUkXYAGLpENh1ZKgAF-KBD4g8zxjimHGGLuXxUXHL1MokkAg3f45g/s320/20230710_092819.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-throated goldentail. <br />Only the second to have been recorded in Cusuco</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The autumn
migration season is always busy and returning home I was soon involved in
ringing again at my own site, other sites across Charnwood as well as at
Stanford Reservoir. Ringing entails very early morning starts and I was often having to
get up at 3am to get to Stanford by 4.30 to erect nets early to catch roosting birds. However, for ten consecutive days in
August we camp out at the reservoir for Stanstock, </span></span>the highlight of the ringing year. <span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a hectic time with hundreds of warblers, mainly blackcaps, being ringed and
processed as well as the occasional rarity. And, at last, it was my turn to ring the annual Wryneck. A bird that
has been on my wish list for several years and well worth the wait.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc3r7gMCjoYAPIimRzQyprdWLucbqartJMii_SGr1ZEz5FeChXyoYUSaQNU6kucOSjJMlsLk20lQiIMezNZ5SRa1-m4rJyxCQl5I6qRcsoAp9EtAHlNfhJuA4WWZQNy4wm7b4TqsBCiC7TkKh_6GALbugecK7zO38UI3j1EW6obTpB9iaEOzHlXR_rb8h/s1174/20230828_131916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1174" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc3r7gMCjoYAPIimRzQyprdWLucbqartJMii_SGr1ZEz5FeChXyoYUSaQNU6kucOSjJMlsLk20lQiIMezNZ5SRa1-m4rJyxCQl5I6qRcsoAp9EtAHlNfhJuA4WWZQNy4wm7b4TqsBCiC7TkKh_6GALbugecK7zO38UI3j1EW6obTpB9iaEOzHlXR_rb8h/s320/20230828_131916.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assessing the age of the Wryneck</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At Kelham
Bridge I was pleased to be catching juveniles of Reed warblers, Reed buntings
and Cetti’s warblers which shows the breeding potential of this site. I loved
the early mornings and tranquility of Kelham whilst I was ringing. It felt good
to be efficiently extracting and processing birds and using my steadily
increasing skills and knowledge. As the autumn progressed the mass flocks of
migrating birds dwindled. However, the early winter saw the influx of Goldcrest,
winter thrushes, Redwing and the first Fieldfare ringed at Kelham. I was delighted
to recapture a control Goldcrest ringed at Flamborough Head eleven days earlier. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0ty-M8B0iabI2hUkhDfmmOARhrpul_mcNd0Qf04m89PCbxvTG7hN_XgqiF5svy_6cVY0pym8AfspI0Zfaru7hCKPRnUnyOhWIOEZKK1FrdcOl0h6ynULeJzM-1rk6GsoF2n3xDxcOF71vsM2opiDQFDjknQp6k-DvDU1r-CGU8MTvkVKKSBSO7iSt43n/s3468/20240207_180815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2305" data-original-width="3468" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0ty-M8B0iabI2hUkhDfmmOARhrpul_mcNd0Qf04m89PCbxvTG7hN_XgqiF5svy_6cVY0pym8AfspI0Zfaru7hCKPRnUnyOhWIOEZKK1FrdcOl0h6ynULeJzM-1rk6GsoF2n3xDxcOF71vsM2opiDQFDjknQp6k-DvDU1r-CGU8MTvkVKKSBSO7iSt43n/s320/20240207_180815.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 Cetti's warblers were ringed at Kelham during 2023</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since
getting my C-permit in 2020, I have had a wide range of ringing experiences and
gradually built my skills, knowledge and confidence. Consequently, it was
suggested that I try for my A-permit which requires an assessment by an
independent assessor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final
months of the year were taken up in collating my ringing records, completing
application forms and getting reports from Adam, as my trainer, and finding an
assessor. I had two meetings with Colin McShane. The first comprised of
searching for Jack Snipe using thermal imagers and a long discussion about my
experience and future plans as a ringer. The second was a practical assessment of
mist netting and processing common passerines. Finally, just after New Year, I
received notification that I had been awarded my A-permit by BTO License Committee.
It has taken hard work, dedication and commitment to the point of obsession to
reach this point. There is still more to learn and more projects to work on but
the future for bird ringing is exciting. I have new plans for 2024 both at home
and overseas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt7BqyWJ7S5-OmF1RcHRST26RF8sRnrLDs9actOeF_zT9f7ZwfqIsrUnNwFRRtp1DTXNR3nOcUZJJlZ19zBHmGcSv8G2tkdMFlJZ2Cy67e6IXbZ5krtgAIwwf6F1B2V4J6g7F0y9jpttmlulp9LV4e0g-3g8uxuLMeRIkNJCPbJpl2gVsvIbwPYCoZRP8/s3405/20231112_084851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3011" data-original-width="3405" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt7BqyWJ7S5-OmF1RcHRST26RF8sRnrLDs9actOeF_zT9f7ZwfqIsrUnNwFRRtp1DTXNR3nOcUZJJlZ19zBHmGcSv8G2tkdMFlJZ2Cy67e6IXbZ5krtgAIwwf6F1B2V4J6g7F0y9jpttmlulp9LV4e0g-3g8uxuLMeRIkNJCPbJpl2gVsvIbwPYCoZRP8/s320/20231112_084851.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack snipe ringed as part of my A-permit assessment</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to
all ringers and birders at Stanford for patience, training and support. In
particular Adam Homer, my trainer, and Mick Townsend, lead ringer at Stanford. Many
thanks also to Nigel Judson, who has added to my training, and LRWT and other landowners who let us ring on sites in Charnwood.</span></span></p>Kate Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159688765366085707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-43464473796863039142023-11-23T18:53:00.005+00:002023-11-24T08:24:02.261+00:00Just a Quickie...<p>It's cold, it's grey, it's damp, and so are we. What could be finer then, than to wander out in the dark and stick up a few nets?</p><p>So far we have ringed large numbers of warblers over the summer and especially the autumn, but now the warblers have all gone. For full details, readers are advised to wait for the annual report, which will be out in the New Year. We now have migratory thrushes coming down from the north, and so have ringed decent numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Blackbird. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lbu4NjuVyfYWGHmvclisOVvwLkvZbvzI5vxljb1yXyujsFBMKjAbtgCMmNJx_N2D8Ed1JR3m9dMvOcCBfoE0mM1aaG44SNPSlG_TVPLDasYZRIx1gyZLAZ3yMJoy5OYaUPcTqmKbYdOlKa3dWPBYPwZNuVkKm20FnIVbqXCpwq7V06VhjSGAdoYTt0Y/s3114/20231022_093415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3114" data-original-width="2293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lbu4NjuVyfYWGHmvclisOVvwLkvZbvzI5vxljb1yXyujsFBMKjAbtgCMmNJx_N2D8Ed1JR3m9dMvOcCBfoE0mM1aaG44SNPSlG_TVPLDasYZRIx1gyZLAZ3yMJoy5OYaUPcTqmKbYdOlKa3dWPBYPwZNuVkKm20FnIVbqXCpwq7V06VhjSGAdoYTt0Y/s320/20231022_093415.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>First Fieldfare of the year, what a stonker!</i><br /></div><div><p></p><p>The last few sessions have been a bit well, thin, with a hit of birds first round and then fairly sparse rounds after. However, we plough on. Recent storms have blown a few interesting birds in, and here is one such:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpVcwTzoIfoSda2mG0bgUof6VNaIcBnkAcPpolWKsvu1IsqINwBJpwpYmYPkPkPAWayxQ6MOWxFWJLfOJnDH2pZBKlRxMIkFCT78QeFkNrN2K-qr5sR_ulI1tVgQ1aNa_SFXujPUApZ1L7au_rQTHETG6jv-PlXrLJevArDZZfhYR2NQgWEKJgiVU_s4/s879/IMG-20231022-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="700" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpVcwTzoIfoSda2mG0bgUof6VNaIcBnkAcPpolWKsvu1IsqINwBJpwpYmYPkPkPAWayxQ6MOWxFWJLfOJnDH2pZBKlRxMIkFCT78QeFkNrN2K-qr5sR_ulI1tVgQ1aNa_SFXujPUApZ1L7au_rQTHETG6jv-PlXrLJevArDZZfhYR2NQgWEKJgiVU_s4/w219-h274/IMG-20231022-WA0001.jpg" width="219" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Definitely a Wagtail!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a very unusual bird to be mist netted at Stanford. In the UK, we usually have Pied Wagtails, <i>Motacilla alba</i>, subspecies<i> yarrelli</i>, which as the name suggests are largely black and white birds. However, on the continent the subspecies is called White Wagtail, <i>M. alba alba </i>(the nominate subspecies), which is much paler. Given the pale grey mantle on this juvenile, could it be the latter, which would be quite exciting? Cue much head scratching, looking in guides, and calling Chris H, our resident birder. Anyway, to cut a long story short, no this juvenile looks a bit paler perhaps than most, but fits easily within <i>yarrellii</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still, an interesting discussion, and it supports the idea that birds who turn up at unusual times and in unusual places, are always worth a through examination! <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p></p></div>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-82468154532353786032023-10-17T17:02:00.005+01:002023-10-17T18:02:07.001+01:00 Wing-Tagged Marsh Harriers at Stanford Reservoir<p><i>Chris Hubbard, our eagle eyed Sightings Officer, continues his reports of exciting birds encountered at Stanford Reservoir:</i><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguD8CU9xr7aTbWXaV1mJd8ufU1tm7BhyphenhyphenBrFMBlQe_qeV4oSTcCMrSjvWZ0CuB4Iwwx_TZpekUoW8gslSK-q8vfq1kGCOU1JliCMAbtBkVB3dhGnAz53DbvVE8EkO6rGNxVvjBLxg3DSm1kt4MTSbBXLXlT_PQopx-NMT_SItwCE0cITtr2cJMi5wlGc68/s320/IMG_2721.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguD8CU9xr7aTbWXaV1mJd8ufU1tm7BhyphenhyphenBrFMBlQe_qeV4oSTcCMrSjvWZ0CuB4Iwwx_TZpekUoW8gslSK-q8vfq1kGCOU1JliCMAbtBkVB3dhGnAz53DbvVE8EkO6rGNxVvjBLxg3DSm1kt4MTSbBXLXlT_PQopx-NMT_SItwCE0cITtr2cJMi5wlGc68/s1600/IMG_2721.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><br />In early September two Marsh Harriers appeared at Stanford Reservoir. Initially, the birds were quite distant, often feeding over arable farmland and the bordering hedgerows but on the 7th, one came close enough to see that it was fitted with orange wing-tags – at that point no code was read due to the distance. <br />On Saturday 9th September the number of Marsh Harriers had increased to an unprecedented three birds and I was able to obtain close views of them and to my surprise two of the birds had orange tags and the other was untagged - the first time ever we have had tagged birds at the site. With patience I was able to obtain the codes on both birds. I found this much easier to do when the birds rested in the trees bordering the reservoir – they were much more difficult to read when in flight. <br /><br /><b>Marsh Harrier ‘ZC’</b><p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NIKdcIIJDecPKTNnPfyPeUayEUxKkax6jD7_zTBJIYeppQfEax0YW_Iasstdqd3ZXqvDdzyoqHn06POi1JTCye2SfsIu4R4CzmR1nLQNCBwcxO56lLdXTSQI-fUu0Vds-fFVGqBPO4LbZmjMioY9YrqZvFVIRSxkWStc2US-TdOQWFzDF_oNRLnJQgg/s320/IMG_2705%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="181" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NIKdcIIJDecPKTNnPfyPeUayEUxKkax6jD7_zTBJIYeppQfEax0YW_Iasstdqd3ZXqvDdzyoqHn06POi1JTCye2SfsIu4R4CzmR1nLQNCBwcxO56lLdXTSQI-fUu0Vds-fFVGqBPO4LbZmjMioY9YrqZvFVIRSxkWStc2US-TdOQWFzDF_oNRLnJQgg/s1600/IMG_2705%202.jpeg" width="181" /></a></b></div><p></p><p>‘ZC’ was the first to be read. This bird was ringed and tagged on the 19th June 2023 at Breydon Water, near Great Yarmouth. The bird was sexed as a female and she had two siblings, both were males. This was the first time the bird had been observed since being ringed/tagged. <br /><br /><b>Marsh Harrier ‘6A’</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK4HDHpmxgji6JkgklEqDfy1CMio5dpqIUc8FjfE_PqcznBFHNeSarkYkD69UaZDmiD4MCPvdaBaM99iVSt_ee63HpPILhL6HRXKopqcfh1Oe4BeL1n1GogkRfgvICk6BplbrvHrmVHzjxjE8j-5WdhyTrQ3JfpxF-Hn6La2oXL5lcVBgbOiw8vYAIBg/s320/IMG_1475%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK4HDHpmxgji6JkgklEqDfy1CMio5dpqIUc8FjfE_PqcznBFHNeSarkYkD69UaZDmiD4MCPvdaBaM99iVSt_ee63HpPILhL6HRXKopqcfh1Oe4BeL1n1GogkRfgvICk6BplbrvHrmVHzjxjE8j-5WdhyTrQ3JfpxF-Hn6La2oXL5lcVBgbOiw8vYAIBg/s1600/IMG_1475%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></b></div><p><br />Whilst watching ‘ZC’ along the Leicestershire reedbed a second bird flew in and settled in a nearby tree and was immediately read as ‘6A’. This bird was ringed and tagged on the 2nd July 2023 at Welney WWT. This bird was also sexed as a female. This was the first time the bird had been observed since being ringed/tagged.<br /><br /><b>Ongoing Observations</b><br />Like many sites in the county, Marsh Harriers are often short stayers or fly-throughs but both ‘6A’ and ‘ZC’ had extended stays.‘6A’ was observed up to the 13th and ‘ZC’ up to the 19th September. As at the 21st I thought that both birds had departed. However, ‘ZC’ was then picked up again on the 29th and is still present at the time of writing this article (17th October), some 39 days after the initial sighting. <br /><br /><b>The Project</b><br />The project was started in 2011 and is run by the North West Norfolk Ringing Group, with the objective of finding out more about how or if juvenile Marsh Harriers disperse from their natal area. It is now in its 12th year and some interesting and in some cases unexpected results have already been obtained. <br />In 2011 the tags had an individual identifying combination of two letters or one letter and one number in White. From 2012 a combination of two letters or one letter and one number in Black on a lime green tag were used. In 2018 after all the lime green codes had been used, orange tags with Black numbers or letters were used.</p><p><b>Acknowledgments</b><br />I would like to thank Phil Littler for providing the information on both birds. More information can be found at https://www.nwnrg.co.uk/ </p><p>Photo of MH in flight courtesy of B Silverman, others CH. <br /><br />Chris Hubbard</p><p></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-47542831449578986342023-09-01T16:22:00.000+01:002023-09-01T16:22:11.475+01:00Stanstock IV: 37 Species in 13 Days!<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp37KfAGZbcQnXIyR2611iL9lMDLoyuJlz0bNrpXOsAgYKLjH1Q1JBjpV9rO6wR1r8CHwUjtxnRvQ7nqPD34Tq69jLfb8TFVxc1VUc0jjDRhbbRTC0SLbA92L-T9RvfFs38GbnnLzNK13JQparCPvCTTkYHhHKKXQXQsS_IP9jnHRIhAaNhmCbAjEU26g/s877/Stanstock%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="681" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp37KfAGZbcQnXIyR2611iL9lMDLoyuJlz0bNrpXOsAgYKLjH1Q1JBjpV9rO6wR1r8CHwUjtxnRvQ7nqPD34Tq69jLfb8TFVxc1VUc0jjDRhbbRTC0SLbA92L-T9RvfFs38GbnnLzNK13JQparCPvCTTkYHhHKKXQXQsS_IP9jnHRIhAaNhmCbAjEU26g/s320/Stanstock%204.png" width="248" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: left;">As the poster shows, Stanstock nominally runs for the week leading up to the August bank holiday. It is such a good time of year for migrants, that it can also start earlier (Friday 18) and run late (Thursday 31), which was the case, especially when Mick is on the saunter.</p><p>Anyway, it was nets and tents up on Friday 18, and onwards. We set up two ringing stations, one on the railtrack, one at the bench:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDnEFTRrbCiGt-2myGZUIi_BlgGN62JAe1SZWt5dXFdB-gNN4a2B5W0FxPd6WModqiS7nOAJSeOAMHd1oRfr9b8dBea99CAiaDKcN2ZnrDGIfucIsxZgZu-bMTHEjusKcDd7t6JgaSeKXRtSxw6FShe8aokHHPikZFClV47Zz1bcT-ewcMkDyDsNigM0/s4000/20230824_184323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDnEFTRrbCiGt-2myGZUIi_BlgGN62JAe1SZWt5dXFdB-gNN4a2B5W0FxPd6WModqiS7nOAJSeOAMHd1oRfr9b8dBea99CAiaDKcN2ZnrDGIfucIsxZgZu-bMTHEjusKcDd7t6JgaSeKXRtSxw6FShe8aokHHPikZFClV47Zz1bcT-ewcMkDyDsNigM0/s320/20230824_184323.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Railtrack team hard at work including Adam, Ed, Kate, Peter and some anonymous knees.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufaJ_k4d-M18GOB4TNwhVsjr2PUxQTCnyuNGGdtgt8UexCTygErbcA9Yrwck3HZiv1SQjFPTxfYv1fpRL1hihcYklxvbDa4SP34zLy1Xt7Vc3cDlJr9sfWOENDFy7DOY978kQKZ1A826xdV5ubRLYFOml1xIj42SBrJjN_cufzpbNKvtbpEgyHOQAZTA/s4000/20230823_082420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufaJ_k4d-M18GOB4TNwhVsjr2PUxQTCnyuNGGdtgt8UexCTygErbcA9Yrwck3HZiv1SQjFPTxfYv1fpRL1hihcYklxvbDa4SP34zLy1Xt7Vc3cDlJr9sfWOENDFy7DOY978kQKZ1A826xdV5ubRLYFOml1xIj42SBrJjN_cufzpbNKvtbpEgyHOQAZTA/s320/20230823_082420.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Heather, Dave and Stuart keeping it together at the bench.</i></div><p>The weather was largely cool, the winds tended to pick up around 1000, and it was a bit showery, fortunately largely in the afternoons. Although not ideal, clearly the weather worked for our migrants. A total of 3,296 were ringed, plus 264 retraps and 11 controls (all warblers). The new birds were as follows:</p><p>Blackcap 958, Whitethroat 582 , Sedge Warbler 414, Willow Warbler 405, Reed Warbler 270, Garden Warbler 155, Lesser Whitethroat 119, Chiffchaff 64, Robin 61, Blue Tit 42, Redstart 40 (!), Reed Bunting 40, Wren 27, Grasshopper Warbler 23, Great Tit 15, Long Tailed Tit 12, Dunnock 10, Goldcrest 7, Goldfinch 7, Greenfinch 7, Song Thrush 7, Linnet 6, Stock Dove 6, Treecreeper 4, Blackbird 3, Chaffinch 3, Tree Pipit 3 (!!), Kingfisher 2, Mallard 2, Sparrowhawk 2, and single Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Swallow, Whinchat, Yellowhammer and Wryneck (!!!). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq14oIWIyEnnC8Dxa-pwJ3E97bDf-aZrLM_Bkoio1ib7Ut5-nDl89XaCCEKSuCBdFn1v5lR6Nfei4iNzn34yRdt0No8G4_6R0jbtBR1CsfZ3qS94ikHeFxD6DVbH0HOftRj5tfYyTtiA1zb3ILwbAPzMffP5CCMpLc2cqIKGZz74HfwER8atWHcxXtRE/s1111/Redstart%20ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="835" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq14oIWIyEnnC8Dxa-pwJ3E97bDf-aZrLM_Bkoio1ib7Ut5-nDl89XaCCEKSuCBdFn1v5lR6Nfei4iNzn34yRdt0No8G4_6R0jbtBR1CsfZ3qS94ikHeFxD6DVbH0HOftRj5tfYyTtiA1zb3ILwbAPzMffP5CCMpLc2cqIKGZz74HfwER8atWHcxXtRE/s320/Redstart%20ed.jpg" width="241" /></a><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>One of many beautiful Redstarts from Stanstock</i></div><p></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KwBsvqZsfet6ED_QylSAXWr7IsXZL5X-uKOw1pMWF1nLvoa6EHzBZPoFb8yOCqAtRCMuslD9AHkxUFHdSFYCbjR_lBe0m-Ze__-xaeXn5HN8YcSZqSbx4iqLouXt6_5X1EbLpi_IoEdzyHB5th9feHgvbE7poL9A-FZye5YzOaheZc8StNQPFKh3MmM/s930/Whinchat%20ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KwBsvqZsfet6ED_QylSAXWr7IsXZL5X-uKOw1pMWF1nLvoa6EHzBZPoFb8yOCqAtRCMuslD9AHkxUFHdSFYCbjR_lBe0m-Ze__-xaeXn5HN8YcSZqSbx4iqLouXt6_5X1EbLpi_IoEdzyHB5th9feHgvbE7poL9A-FZye5YzOaheZc8StNQPFKh3MmM/s320/Whinchat%20ed.jpg" width="255" /></a><i> </i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i> </i><i>Our annual Whinchat</i></i></div><p></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdphBidyCPUEmXvwuTSUVeQowK8vRwJdv1zzas5xR6cdk6Vu3cE51mJK0UzgEkwkISFxa8-xqwWc3d4z9cH-ie3NObS_OyMAxt96rFV9Q5ewU2SvhH35GkclXChSGFp_x1nTh9aYFrCur82-sCiuyzdK8Yh-XbzCEi1DfIAm0CLUz6ZHlXHH7y10KWyL8/s1271/Trepi%20ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1271" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdphBidyCPUEmXvwuTSUVeQowK8vRwJdv1zzas5xR6cdk6Vu3cE51mJK0UzgEkwkISFxa8-xqwWc3d4z9cH-ie3NObS_OyMAxt96rFV9Q5ewU2SvhH35GkclXChSGFp_x1nTh9aYFrCur82-sCiuyzdK8Yh-XbzCEi1DfIAm0CLUz6ZHlXHH7y10KWyL8/s320/Trepi%20ed.jpg" width="320" /></a><i> </i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i>Two Tree Pipits on the 20th August- their preferred date every year!</i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i> </i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i> </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdg9i-SOH8IJ7U4SlJhp6d10rlD8hOH6mZPB1oswNpDIwddol6sR99kD2CCAFyW8epyEgxrt2pfoGRzFn1v_Owck4C4IpfQGPf2TYcRz8dSH-jen5R9phpDU6uGx8DDMSruJzPXOqtHN89dlDHN5nrcTVBrGtvU5HBkXDD1kqfkHDlY7HOL0aN1P-7Dc/s1919/wryneck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="864" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdg9i-SOH8IJ7U4SlJhp6d10rlD8hOH6mZPB1oswNpDIwddol6sR99kD2CCAFyW8epyEgxrt2pfoGRzFn1v_Owck4C4IpfQGPf2TYcRz8dSH-jen5R9phpDU6uGx8DDMSruJzPXOqtHN89dlDHN5nrcTVBrGtvU5HBkXDD1kqfkHDlY7HOL0aN1P-7Dc/w176-h391/wryneck.jpg" width="176" /></a><i> </i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i>Our annual Wryneck turned up too. What a bird!</i></i></div><p></p><p></p><p>Thanks to Chris H who stepped in for a lot of scribing during the week. Well done too, to our trainees Heather, Jade and Beth, who have progressed in their confidence and skills throughout the week. Finally a barbeque was held on the Thursday supplemented by Chris' cheese and port, which raised £25 for the group- definitely a fixture for next year. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>A splendid time was had by one and all!!<br /></i></p><p><br /></p><br />Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-85514063817596978852023-08-13T14:26:00.001+01:002023-08-13T14:26:59.049+01:00Stanstock IV is Imminent!<p> Just a brief reminder, our fourth celebration of autumn migration starts next week when, weather permitting, we will be ringing every day from Saturday 19th August to Monday 28th. Anyone wanting to visit is welcome to contact me on 25pnorrie@gmail.com, or indeed through any other member of the group. Expect lots of, er... Blackcaps...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPso9dL4aAM0RVVifIy-jtOUp62El_9J_b7SvNm8yaM-FKQ6yNPPtMAZeVV_8bGfqESXyLS_qYsuSoolKtOcrN_YkE8xU7bs0W4FNaRPGaNR9Y95ADe8l1cM1PlsGv1xFkY-pbY2rxVAapfLyfj5vufo0919NATL75ah8jnyn6k4JfUd-4Sa2IXU7WuCg/s1076/Redstart%20Apr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="845" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPso9dL4aAM0RVVifIy-jtOUp62El_9J_b7SvNm8yaM-FKQ6yNPPtMAZeVV_8bGfqESXyLS_qYsuSoolKtOcrN_YkE8xU7bs0W4FNaRPGaNR9Y95ADe8l1cM1PlsGv1xFkY-pbY2rxVAapfLyfj5vufo0919NATL75ah8jnyn6k4JfUd-4Sa2IXU7WuCg/s320/Redstart%20Apr.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>But lots of goodies too!<br /><br /><p></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-25887292491341995252023-08-13T11:45:00.002+01:002023-08-13T14:13:29.014+01:00Blyth’s Reed Warbler 8th September 2022 – a New Bird for Stanford & Northamptonshire<p><i>Chris, our Sightings Officer has written up an account of another exciting warbler which was ringed at the reservoir last year. Remember too, to have a look at previous year's reporting in our rivetting annual reports, which can be accessed from</i> <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/">http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/ </a><br /></p><p>Ringing activity at Stanford Reservoir tends to moves up a gear in the autumn. The 8th September presented perfect conditions to ring, so Mick Townsend (MJT) and Adam Homer (AGH) were out early erecting a number of nets in Blower's Lodge Bay on the Northants side of the reservoir. Chris Hubbard (CMH) was on site to take on the scribing duties for the first couple of rounds, which do tend to be the busiest. <br /><br />Around 80 birds were brought back from the first round and MJT and AGH commenced the process of ringing these. MJT got to bird number four which was clearly an acrocephalus warbler. It is worth pointing out that the ringing group have ringed over 7000 Reed and 4 Marsh Warblers in their 40 years at the site. Each bird is carefully checked to establish the wing measurements and the position of the P2 notch. On completing the initial check MJT immediately said that the measurements didn’t fit Reed and it could be a Blyth’s Reed!</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6sj7SMGSJ3nuI7C1f9L6SNlT98FNTPbDMtsLvvsAedQfFSIu8herfdPA9IZA2gKpUeuK-dUuhtHqrAFvVMYGwmC3WoAMSXa9Zr3IHoLhmxUgDAOg4Dreqt3oqsTSIZrsbkRIuCedE_OIxRTYQPNv-_cSYakL0kERjbWguH4pkrtHy3Q5c0lzPyfwbIY/s557/Blyth.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6sj7SMGSJ3nuI7C1f9L6SNlT98FNTPbDMtsLvvsAedQfFSIu8herfdPA9IZA2gKpUeuK-dUuhtHqrAFvVMYGwmC3WoAMSXa9Zr3IHoLhmxUgDAOg4Dreqt3oqsTSIZrsbkRIuCedE_OIxRTYQPNv-_cSYakL0kERjbWguH4pkrtHy3Q5c0lzPyfwbIY/s320/Blyth.bmp" width="240" /></a></div><p>Before a bird is ringed it should be positively identified so MJT went about gathering key data and referring to Svensson's<i> Identification Guide to European Passerines</i> whilst AGH continued the process of ringing the other birds. Key biometrics were obtained and cross checked with Svensson, confirming MJT’s initial thoughts that this was indeed a Blyth’s Reed Warbler. CMH continued to scribe whilst also documenting the key biometrics on the BTO Rarity Recording Form. The bird was ringed and then a number of photographs were taken, two of which are included below. The bird was subsequently released in Blower's Lodge Bay and the enormity of what had happened began to sink in. The bird was not seen again after it’s release. The record was subsequently accepted by the Northants Records Committee as the first Blyth’s Reed Warbler for Northamptonshire.<br /><br /><b>Key Identification Points</b><br /> • Primaries emarginated P3 to P5 – only P3 in Reed / Marsh. <br /> • P2 notch =12mm = tertials. <br /> • Wing length – 63mm.<br /> • Rounded wing.<br /> • Short primary projection.<br /> • Forehead peaking behind the eye.<br /> • Fairly indistinct supercilium behind the eye.<br /> • Lower belly whitish. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lI8Oednnfyu2SLUmXBwCBu1Cv6fM1MGbbLnKg4PbzCpfK5eGxwhSWxrQ8Txd4JkbfxF6Jzfb8KspGg_aEZ2LspXmrJlPfUJ2JdhMeaDemCtLMnWYUu6_dp59wwnt3Fuk4Bj5uUyAv1lghoNAIdnTQ62RKjXY2wbWJqBUG_KJCSp28TR5gEVV5gPvHvk/s848/Blyth%20wing.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="848" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lI8Oednnfyu2SLUmXBwCBu1Cv6fM1MGbbLnKg4PbzCpfK5eGxwhSWxrQ8Txd4JkbfxF6Jzfb8KspGg_aEZ2LspXmrJlPfUJ2JdhMeaDemCtLMnWYUu6_dp59wwnt3Fuk4Bj5uUyAv1lghoNAIdnTQ62RKjXY2wbWJqBUG_KJCSp28TR5gEVV5gPvHvk/s320/Blyth%20wing.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>A feather that was dislodged in the ringing process was subsequently sent to Martin Collinson at the University of Aberdeen for DNA analysis. The team confirmed the bird was <i>A.dumetorum</i>, Blyth’s Reed Warbler.<br /><br />Written by Chris Hubbard, Mick Townsend and Adam Homer</p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-35052016821061271142023-08-08T18:50:00.000+01:002023-08-08T18:50:01.067+01:00 Marsh Warbler at Stanford Reservoir, 7th June 2023<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM02RkXcrRkeGzToSmAaHJTMXrabVmbf72MTkXeh0qq80Nf5Y2SpNnFPwpulE3-owIVL7MllO_vK61258qcuO-8mNZksV-PfQ5h8m5_fzcNXw_Z7y4hqHeujALTA4HmdbEEV1fGDCo_nL7sX5t6PFSsxC7KT_pVmVIXNUsZ-Rj7iIWxRBLoYsTh-0-nkM/s320/IMG_0835.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM02RkXcrRkeGzToSmAaHJTMXrabVmbf72MTkXeh0qq80Nf5Y2SpNnFPwpulE3-owIVL7MllO_vK61258qcuO-8mNZksV-PfQ5h8m5_fzcNXw_Z7y4hqHeujALTA4HmdbEEV1fGDCo_nL7sX5t6PFSsxC7KT_pVmVIXNUsZ-Rj7iIWxRBLoYsTh-0-nkM/s1600/IMG_0835.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i> </i><i></i><p></p><p><i>Chris Hubbard, our Sightings Officer, keeps a very close eye on the
birds at Stanford, here is his account of one encounter with a very
elusive species: </i></p><p>As we moved into June, I became increasingly aware of a significant influx of Marsh Warblers into the UK. June is also a month when Icterine, Melodious or Blyth’s Reed can turn up and all are possible at an inland site with suitable habitat. As an avid patch birder, you should never rule anything out and events across the rest of the country are often early indicators of something good happening on the patch.</p><p>On the morning of the 7th June, I had already walked along the Leicestershire side of the reservoir and as I often do, decided to turn around and walk back to the dam to re-check the reedbed. <br /><br />As I walked along the path adjacent to the reedbed, I picked up on a very distinctive and different song coming from hawthorns bordering the area. My initial reaction was Marsh Warbler but I knew I needed to rule out Icterine, Melodious and Blyth’s Reed. I was very familiar with Icterine Warbler having spent several hours listening to one at Rutland Water in June 2021. Even though Icterine mimics other birds it has a very distinctive <i>‘squeaky toy’</i> note which this bird didn’t have. However, I was less familiar with the song of Blyth’s Reed and Melodious although I had listened to them in the past in anticipation of an event such as this.<br /><br />On returning later I was able to get much better recording and some brief views - my view on the bird’s identification hadn’t changed. I had already spoken with Mick Townsend (leader of Stanford Ringing Group) about releasing the news given that it was a very narrow track with breeding birds in the adjacent reedbed. I also thought the bird would be popular with local birders so needed to consult with Severn Trent about potentially allowing non permit holders on site. On the basis that I would be there to monitor, I released the news and this allowed birders ample time to visit and enjoy this very rare bird for the county. I last heard it sing at 20.50 and it wasn’t present the following day.<b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXWeEx_s7PcXsSPAobKERENnZQeIMI3cbLZ1kn4w7PG65mEOdPxCMrQ3xXwTD97xs4667hZwPbd0NNEjtucgnxX-1RJHfFN_rCiP4xAGqSOQl8_vSqkqRqJYATYYPkjB498Jj-icqt1HGVdz6U7Relaqy39w6WcMOqZQAe7U9OWkiwqqmoAofiSETkAs/s320/IMG_0834.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXWeEx_s7PcXsSPAobKERENnZQeIMI3cbLZ1kn4w7PG65mEOdPxCMrQ3xXwTD97xs4667hZwPbd0NNEjtucgnxX-1RJHfFN_rCiP4xAGqSOQl8_vSqkqRqJYATYYPkjB498Jj-icqt1HGVdz6U7Relaqy39w6WcMOqZQAe7U9OWkiwqqmoAofiSETkAs/s1600/IMG_0834.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Description </b><br />The bird remained incredibly elusive throughout. Overall, I had three brief views of the bird despite it singing from hawthorn only a few feet away. The combination of views were enough to confirm that the bird was an ‘Acrocephalus’ warbler. Crown and mantle were light grey-brown with off-white underparts. When I had slightly obscured views later in the day of the bird preening in the base of a willow, I felt that this off-white colour also looked tinged yellow / brown. The bird never sang from a high perch but remained either in hawthorn, cow parsley or the dog rose all bordering the reedbed. It seemed to do circuits between these positions during all of my observations (c.6 hours in total) but never gave a clear, unobscured view. It also fell silent for periods before starting to sing again from one of its favoured positions. <br /><br />The song was the identification clincher. It is difficult to write down what a song sounded like but I have posted recordings on my Twitter feed and on the LROS Facebook page. It had very few pauses – very excitable made up of a number of elements of mimicry. I noted Blackbird alarm call, Great Tit, Song Thrush and House Sparrow in one section alone. Sometimes the song seemed quieter, but still excitable and quick. The speed of song, lack of clicking call between sections of the song and the array of mimicry ruled out Blyth’s Reed. Also, the combination of the song and the views confirming the bird as an ‘Acro’ ruled out Icterine and Melodious. <br /></p><p>This is the sixth record for Stanford Reservoir, the previous records are summarised here:<br /><br />17th June 1984 – ringed on the Leicestershire side<br />16th May 1989 – singing bird on the Northants side<br />7th June 2000 – ringed on the Leicestershire side<br />9th August 2018 – ringed on the Northants side <br />10th September 2020 – ringed on the Northants side<br /><br />This is the ninth record for Leicestershire and Rutland and the first for 23 years.<br /><br /><i>Chris Hubbard</i><br /><br />Images of a singing Marsh Warbler (reproduced with kind permission from Andrew C Sims) taken around the same time of year at Chapel Six Marshes, Lincs. <br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-783892505233656312023-06-06T19:09:00.003+01:002023-06-07T15:10:10.747+01:00Early Summer Round Up<p>Spring is now over with its rain and winds and we are now into summer, still with the wind, but no rain... so probably an improvement. The mighty SRG have rallied to the cause and we are all enjoying the regular Saturday and occasional midweek sessions. The days are still lengthening, but we (almost) relish the 0430 starts and the cold mornings. Surely it will warm up soon? So far we have ringed 791 birds of 31 species, a good start to the year. <br /></p><p>Our residents are busy producing their young, and we are starting to pick up the occasional juvenile. Most of the tit boxes on both sides of the reservoir have produced good numbers. It is always nice to see young Robins fledged and getting ringed: </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfGfAhNy8eVVufZCotcckKy3Ex0kbgo7DtvidNAMzEOhsdF1nPTImHEX4YlB7TDpKdS1QaHt_u39X12BjQVcJSgIZh0XtaalXYOhOdN6oTfMxrdnHDtud3GNqhzAQghUR1H-KNOsk-mPSpzvebvcv9ARSxm-FX1K96nCeVnuZI4DFercg-d0Ik6Dp/s2574/Robincrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2574" data-original-width="1748" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfGfAhNy8eVVufZCotcckKy3Ex0kbgo7DtvidNAMzEOhsdF1nPTImHEX4YlB7TDpKdS1QaHt_u39X12BjQVcJSgIZh0XtaalXYOhOdN6oTfMxrdnHDtud3GNqhzAQghUR1H-KNOsk-mPSpzvebvcv9ARSxm-FX1K96nCeVnuZI4DFercg-d0Ik6Dp/s320/Robincrop.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>To make the most of the long northern summers, our breeding warblers have returned, with the sad exception of Grasshopper Warblers who seem to have forsaken us as a breeding bird this year. All the others are back.<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaZrSLT62s_2JcT47CKwVJhVKAW42vnjkCs5RxiBaTatuDoUKuilIkzKJeywMQ-q4sbA4QA3djJyGwwS9hetXEQa6E5rOeaFq6f66JyfOGgFp9eTmn2W8bryqk-w5WxqG7p4-oZdxTk7VzKNQAeowtoBWoxhLKUusT_8zN3ogf5wGmpUnLHeIrG3j/s2800/sedwa.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2800" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaZrSLT62s_2JcT47CKwVJhVKAW42vnjkCs5RxiBaTatuDoUKuilIkzKJeywMQ-q4sbA4QA3djJyGwwS9hetXEQa6E5rOeaFq6f66JyfOGgFp9eTmn2W8bryqk-w5WxqG7p4-oZdxTk7VzKNQAeowtoBWoxhLKUusT_8zN3ogf5wGmpUnLHeIrG3j/w257-h193/sedwa.JPG" width="257" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Sedge Warbler- newly returned</i><br /> </p><p></p><p>It is particularly nice to see birds we ringed in previous years returning to Stanford. Thus far, the number of returns are: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 5, Sedge Warbler 6, Garden Warbler 8, Willow Warbler 10, Chiffchaff 11, Whitethroat 20 and Reed Warbler 28. </p><p>Reed Warblers overwinter in West Africa. The challenges of flying and navigating 3,500 miles for a bird which only weighs 10 grams are fairly mind boggling, so we are always delighted when they arrive. The oldest returnee so far was ringed as an adult in 2017, therefore has made the journey at least 13 times, meaning that it has covered in excess of 45,000 miles. When I first drafted this blog, I checked my calculations twice, as it seems such an outlandish number, but what an amazing feat. To finish off, here is one of our favourite birds. also recently returned from Africa, from just south of the Sahara!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YtcKT83m9bf2ZrbGKpcm0oAOLCiZTWsuWlxELMr5GZnrKB63wScT8lXmKkh9tDCZz-q605CzF9nNM3F92DHJPl8quet1qZXk4rJHAATjcTBwA8_UMjbGZKElvIemr2dz1MeinW-kSXvvuQedMuoK6RHrmS8_PYH9sD1c2GY43gJo4MdE5fiDeq9U/s2121/Leswhcop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2121" data-original-width="1447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YtcKT83m9bf2ZrbGKpcm0oAOLCiZTWsuWlxELMr5GZnrKB63wScT8lXmKkh9tDCZz-q605CzF9nNM3F92DHJPl8quet1qZXk4rJHAATjcTBwA8_UMjbGZKElvIemr2dz1MeinW-kSXvvuQedMuoK6RHrmS8_PYH9sD1c2GY43gJo4MdE5fiDeq9U/s320/Leswhcop.jpg" width="218" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Lesser Whitethroat, always a delight!</i><br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-68493510698267433062023-05-08T17:24:00.001+01:002023-05-08T20:39:54.696+01:00Back in Business in 2023<p> We are now back to our usual activities, ringing on Saturdays, plus midweek sessions from the SRG (Senior Retired Gentlemen). As I write, it is lovely to see our warblers arriving, and we have now ringed good numbers of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers, with smaller numbers of Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler.</p><p>It is particularly nice to see birds we ringed in previous years returning, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff seem to be very site faithful. Anyway, they are all singing at the tops of their voices, and generally getting on with producing the next generation of birds. Excellent.</p><p>Unfortunately Grasshopper Warblers have not been heard or ringed. It would be a shame to lose these as a breeding species, although numbers elsewhere are good. However, we have ringed, a couple of unusual species (for Stanford anyway). At the Lodge, a Mistle Thrush nest was spotted by Steve, one of our sharp eyed birders. Thanks to Jim, the owner, we were able to access the nest and extract the only pullus and ring it:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi4rHta8_mj4WXf0Z7ocgezUw2Yz2hzYFG--CuH_pM-0ybre-4CRadCppOJ6M6-mSdPPG6ZDHosrI8geGl9yEdJ0uTDvXdiLbI5fwxFKv99QuILSWNzyZAO4RCY1yoe0t-aomtM9yN9GQ2pke0Cg_MSb2Uo-wk2XHUVL47sBXVym7IA4ZaR-e7vNP/s1024/Mistle%20Thrush.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi4rHta8_mj4WXf0Z7ocgezUw2Yz2hzYFG--CuH_pM-0ybre-4CRadCppOJ6M6-mSdPPG6ZDHosrI8geGl9yEdJ0uTDvXdiLbI5fwxFKv99QuILSWNzyZAO4RCY1yoe0t-aomtM9yN9GQ2pke0Cg_MSb2Uo-wk2XHUVL47sBXVym7IA4ZaR-e7vNP/s320/Mistle%20Thrush.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Only the third Mistle Thrush ringed at Stanford, and the first since 1984! The other unusual bird was this Mallard:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7MPZ_lVCR3v6RKbKveAYpqfvKXcaWNgWz9coJ4cVpE7UuXkjf6-w5-BVpE8jTwSc9WoaHj3IGBOvsq_HzS4KpXhv8l9MGZv2dJGt9Hj6dXVOjgGl058snScYsYdHLC4izTAHm3VX4jYLkUrOa8udw5b9XV-WW8FmwzjuZdMWZQFrKz6QF_S2eT8E/s4000/Mallard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7MPZ_lVCR3v6RKbKveAYpqfvKXcaWNgWz9coJ4cVpE7UuXkjf6-w5-BVpE8jTwSc9WoaHj3IGBOvsq_HzS4KpXhv8l9MGZv2dJGt9Hj6dXVOjgGl058snScYsYdHLC4izTAHm3VX4jYLkUrOa8udw5b9XV-WW8FmwzjuZdMWZQFrKz6QF_S2eT8E/s320/Mallard.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The first since 2011! It was found grazing scattered seed at the feeders with a drake, and flew up directly into a net, to be promptly extracted by Mick. Of the two, I don't know which was the most surprised. <br /></p><p>These two birds make up for a slightly slow turnout this year, so it is all to play for; autumn is really the time for Stanford to shine, so we are hoping to rack up a good number of species in 2023.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-80426784628307465852023-01-25T11:04:00.001+00:002023-01-25T11:57:28.087+00:00Annual Report 2022<p>The latest annual report is now available from our website, <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/index.html">Stanford Ringing Group (stanfordrg.org.uk</a>) (always worth a browse), or directly from <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/srgstats/2022-annrep.pdf">2022-annrep.pdf (stanfordrg.org.uk)</a> Enjoy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq1l09mDCgjB241XFyMCkf0LNQn9p7zXDcS59kXvLxyHNykOve5qqwnhjIXvJ9SDwLntr5ZyG6iYN5hj-iN0Rx4UPIpq_gDh36MR7xi7Q8XmhgMCcoJSZ-FUQJYshL2ErEIzK09sm0RgXVZLcDB3upyXufWOACHhA8WdEhDG_JwPyEEGG_FDpN17r/s3604/DSCF4730.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="3604" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq1l09mDCgjB241XFyMCkf0LNQn9p7zXDcS59kXvLxyHNykOve5qqwnhjIXvJ9SDwLntr5ZyG6iYN5hj-iN0Rx4UPIpq_gDh36MR7xi7Q8XmhgMCcoJSZ-FUQJYshL2ErEIzK09sm0RgXVZLcDB3upyXufWOACHhA8WdEhDG_JwPyEEGG_FDpN17r/s320/DSCF4730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'Very impressed, I couldn't put it down!'</i></div><p><br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-87075152413997577282023-01-23T11:21:00.003+00:002023-01-23T11:30:35.418+00:00Scrub Bashing Starts Again!<div style="text-align: left;"><div>Many people are surprised by the number of warblers ringed at Stanford. In part it is due to the enthusiasm of the ringing team, who put in the hours of ringing that produce such valuable data. However, the team also put in many hours of habitat maintenance or scrub bashing as it is locally known, during the winter months. If left unmanaged the wetland area around the reservoir would turn from reeds and bramble to blackthorn and willow and eventually wet woodland would emerge. Many warbler species nest in low level vegetation so, unless woody vegetation is cut back, the numbers of breeding birds here would quickly decline. From January through to early April, instead of ringing, we turn up on a weekend morning armed with loppers, bowsaws and, for those who are licensed to use them, chainsaws, to work on site in anticipation of our summer visitors. </div><div>Saturday started cold and frosty but at 8 am a team of 11 ringers and local volunteers arrived at the railtrack to start work. After a warming cuppa and brief chat, we split into teams to cut back the rampant blackthorn and encroaching willow and hawthorn. The sound of chainsaws soon reverberated around the reservoir. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LC9hhegY0cLGqHEtjrVqtnJ5RQoSvDVPr0X3x3gvcfdW8uw9zlL31MAQIncrIJYP_URMDKxfbG2MMTxyMh10LwmgLvohivTFDHvzBgkyp8IaEqMZJFPqYUjCq7MWE9a-k8J8rY-y3aPlINZgI4YKYIkE9fNgkJa4LEPVA8wt2XflOAZ7agzN3EnI/s3330/20230121_110950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2264" data-original-width="3330" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LC9hhegY0cLGqHEtjrVqtnJ5RQoSvDVPr0X3x3gvcfdW8uw9zlL31MAQIncrIJYP_URMDKxfbG2MMTxyMh10LwmgLvohivTFDHvzBgkyp8IaEqMZJFPqYUjCq7MWE9a-k8J8rY-y3aPlINZgI4YKYIkE9fNgkJa4LEPVA8wt2XflOAZ7agzN3EnI/s320/20230121_110950.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Beth suitably attired for hard work. A range of malcontents and recidivists in the background</i></div><div><div><br /></div><div>One team, led by Adam, started a fire with donated cardboard and scavenged ash, which burns well even when green. Others used hand tools to attack the blackthorn.</div><div>Thick leather welding gloves are essential for this job to keep out the inch long thorns. Some of us dragged felled branches along the path to feed the fire. It was certainly warm work and good exercise. The fire soon gained enough heat to burn even the wet green willow.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv21zmXAYaU9GWzPucAHaggFCZ-v39atk3WUhbAvX3jueyPbXz6uispOoQ7pAOsjW1EVBsMktNNA_Mg-UsyztKUykl_XjrMTCULBRo4ZWXWHd9Y2c2erkaSH-Zx6ZG75M1mXa_zYaksNqCArlQOIm16GMsqDCbUbzvy5R51matJks7jSuBAJT2f5i/s4000/20230121_112642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv21zmXAYaU9GWzPucAHaggFCZ-v39atk3WUhbAvX3jueyPbXz6uispOoQ7pAOsjW1EVBsMktNNA_Mg-UsyztKUykl_XjrMTCULBRo4ZWXWHd9Y2c2erkaSH-Zx6ZG75M1mXa_zYaksNqCArlQOIm16GMsqDCbUbzvy5R51matJks7jSuBAJT2f5i/s320/20230121_112642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Adam tends to the fire; very welcome on a cold morning</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Regular tea breaks kept us going for nearly four hours and by the time we finished we had transformed an area so that that little remained above head height, except a few elegant birch trees.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Weather permitting, we will be repeating this every weekend until April in preparation for the<br />return of the migrant warblers and a bountiful ringing season in 2023.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0kUjkasurTrPoTvSmoBMcqwkD6XnmdZ_BUilFA6TgXhUrZXMaqxF0Ql9jqTqc3ItaJFMcDrzFWWfGuEu0iPPz1yC30yK-eJcRs-cN4PJCyu5WCa5RTBy8rqVJaw2claNgUXecwysJVKN7OjrEoMkgFhXkMNui5b7fca43CuHQQNQmeC_MO95t3I9/s4000/20230121_112340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0kUjkasurTrPoTvSmoBMcqwkD6XnmdZ_BUilFA6TgXhUrZXMaqxF0Ql9jqTqc3ItaJFMcDrzFWWfGuEu0iPPz1yC30yK-eJcRs-cN4PJCyu5WCa5RTBy8rqVJaw2claNgUXecwysJVKN7OjrEoMkgFhXkMNui5b7fca43CuHQQNQmeC_MO95t3I9/s320/20230121_112340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Unceasing toil at Stanford!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div>Do you feel you could work this hard? We are always looking for volunteers to help us, contact details can be found on our website <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/">Stanford Ringing Group (stanfordrg.org.uk)</a></div><div>Posted by Kate M<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-26405029185859505262022-12-11T14:04:00.002+00:002022-12-11T20:15:16.448+00:00Winter Ringing at Stanford<p> A cold snap has hit the UK, but a mere detail like that is as nothing to the boys and girls of the mighty Stanford Ringing Group!</p><p>On Saturday 10th December, the temperature varied from a decidedly nippy -3 degrees C, to a comparatively balmy +1. Not put off, a large team met up at 0600. Dawn and Beth went to the Paddock, whilst Adam, Dave, Jade, Jo, Stuart and Peter met up on the rail track. Battling with frozen guys and sub zero metal polls, we put up nets from Safari to Box 16, plus the Paddock giving a total of 27, a mammoth undertaking. Despite the cold, it was a sunny morning with very little wind, so it perhaps wasn't quite as challenging as this photo might suggest:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyhiDI1wZqnVcAfe2IRypVtIhqVS-cwtQwtDRr-jJ8OfFeXNlxmL4lnB6Kz8QNIiL7xyguNRPCt7LcL3XhqLNh4uzT9aTFH4DPQ2QTM8TKqVjHEQc0AcFDuwUJKXuzQTgP1OKFFXFlWt08kLyqZhJKac0Nf2YJv2vZWO6tSq2yIWAtpYQHJWQu4m3/s4000/20221210_074713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyhiDI1wZqnVcAfe2IRypVtIhqVS-cwtQwtDRr-jJ8OfFeXNlxmL4lnB6Kz8QNIiL7xyguNRPCt7LcL3XhqLNh4uzT9aTFH4DPQ2QTM8TKqVjHEQc0AcFDuwUJKXuzQTgP1OKFFXFlWt08kLyqZhJKac0Nf2YJv2vZWO6tSq2yIWAtpYQHJWQu4m3/s320/20221210_074713.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dave, Stuart, Adam, Jade and Jo in full winter plumage</i></div><p>The first round was very productive, with a good number of thrushes, both resident and winter visitors:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjAKsW2EAZ90WArD7kFcXtcldTNdcTpazQL8iVcXbrVWHVILdRTDB6m2_cAM4iL7Ov59YNhkugaZlUP-YF1SboWiRa4dF3G5SZ6OplTm3weVv1z_466wVq0U2HEtVTM5YL_f2YZQY-56F_MAe_wiWqLK4liiZMmkxDAMUI5nNf1-fUTefSEQEtwSs/s1024/IMG-20221210-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="1024" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjAKsW2EAZ90WArD7kFcXtcldTNdcTpazQL8iVcXbrVWHVILdRTDB6m2_cAM4iL7Ov59YNhkugaZlUP-YF1SboWiRa4dF3G5SZ6OplTm3weVv1z_466wVq0U2HEtVTM5YL_f2YZQY-56F_MAe_wiWqLK4liiZMmkxDAMUI5nNf1-fUTefSEQEtwSs/s320/IMG-20221210-WA0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A nice selection of our thrushes: (L to R) Redwing, female and male Blackbirds and Fieldfare</i></div><p>It is particularly nice to have decent numbers of Fieldfare; the total for 2022 is 24 so far, in comparison to a decidedly meagre single bird in the previous year.</p><p>The totals from both locations were, for new birds: Wren 2, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 11, Fieldfare 2, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 23, Blackcap 1 and Reed Bunting 3. We were really pleased to re-trap a number of our resident species, who seem to be surviving the cold weather very well, these were: Wren 7, Dunnock 4, Robin 9, Blackbird 3, Cetti's Warbler 2, Long Tailed Tit 2, Blue Tit 7 and Great Tit 3. Also, we had a re-trap Yellowhammer, which is a very rare event- the first since 2001!</p><p>Well 2022 is drawing to a close, and in many ways it has been a horrible year, but nothing puts off our birds as they go through their lives, perhaps a lesson for all of us. Last words go to one of our residents:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D-BhCUG2j0y2bBow-1dCwH74a0VfKdG0IeDzQbxW1pGyDOlAhJzkg2fP5uBLTkvy_4th37Zi_-Cs-tH6BdEzIIwCmdnTiIOpKddxFqtBwOnZohDgkgNj_2lcUg_ixfjHSSegM0leeEoBwTtog4RXlaVV0sxckGptVpHgvxAB19C-UHwOGSspJGXs/s2048/IMG-20221106-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D-BhCUG2j0y2bBow-1dCwH74a0VfKdG0IeDzQbxW1pGyDOlAhJzkg2fP5uBLTkvy_4th37Zi_-Cs-tH6BdEzIIwCmdnTiIOpKddxFqtBwOnZohDgkgNj_2lcUg_ixfjHSSegM0leeEoBwTtog4RXlaVV0sxckGptVpHgvxAB19C-UHwOGSspJGXs/s320/IMG-20221106-WA0002.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>'Merry Christmas, see you in 2023!'</i></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></blockquote></blockquote><br /><p><br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-70683439123819550782022-09-02T15:14:00.008+01:002022-09-04T14:00:19.009+01:00Stanstock III: A Great Gathering of the Group at the Reservoir<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4fZbzTcySFIRxkIeXobwcXBy9cdOzmfocNGmYtRqfZPG0VGfPczMtvaCpo0U0v6ZHZGsDTTwlcOEHrTj72qZKZXHG79d96AHCt427TQap-Xv-cdkNN1pTtelN6FMqjZi8g8G5F-aYk_og2dnkvdhnQksFqiU6tyk7XYRvjO7KQSeBGtr93Tc4Eqk/s811/Stanstock%203%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="547" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4fZbzTcySFIRxkIeXobwcXBy9cdOzmfocNGmYtRqfZPG0VGfPczMtvaCpo0U0v6ZHZGsDTTwlcOEHrTj72qZKZXHG79d96AHCt427TQap-Xv-cdkNN1pTtelN6FMqjZi8g8G5F-aYk_og2dnkvdhnQksFqiU6tyk7XYRvjO7KQSeBGtr93Tc4Eqk/s320/Stanstock%203%20poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></p><p>Our annual celebration of migration is nominally scheduled for the last whole week of August, leading up to the Bank Holiday. The Gods of Ringing smiled upon us this time, and we had decent weather from Saturday 20th through to Tuesday 30th, so we ringed pretty solidly for 11 days. This was backed up by a good turnout of SRG members, so in addition to Railtrack, for part of the time we had two ringing stations, covering the Railtrack and Point; about 27 nets. As before, a contingent camped out supplemented by day visitors. It is no exaggeration to describe it as a walloping great success!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8t2CNFGas9K8PbSqr8MLs8-SOObwU5_CfzuCipnlWsVeSsVzKqBwoXCoJdBdm0Zy0gJOTUZq1j-HMB0YdaJUr9D_evNK3cdBrMJESaJxxS_kpvd0hDK2tB0jNtszo8udCAToQNVjzgwuVweOQpAedGw8anCsBhQQ1D-ZPvPE9yaxzHaq4ZdmBDSo/s4000/20220820_083004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8t2CNFGas9K8PbSqr8MLs8-SOObwU5_CfzuCipnlWsVeSsVzKqBwoXCoJdBdm0Zy0gJOTUZq1j-HMB0YdaJUr9D_evNK3cdBrMJESaJxxS_kpvd0hDK2tB0jNtszo8udCAToQNVjzgwuVweOQpAedGw8anCsBhQQ1D-ZPvPE9yaxzHaq4ZdmBDSo/s320/20220820_083004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Jade, Heather and Kate look industrious</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL1cdV3VivAj_phdhttIXkyEspvUf8aw2VK8WF7zRFKYPWS-7oBgdokz5Nbt5SlgYT2aGjlQJ65N9hSCDSjMVr1x7QrnboJCp5gRUrLUm9mAqgcL92NLlLtPOgaPUNKiaXs2XRgsh7Wf-_76M_jaoZESxdH3oXnP0aab7IT23iwgZQ8t0HFnWZWcr/s1599/IMG-20220820-WA0016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL1cdV3VivAj_phdhttIXkyEspvUf8aw2VK8WF7zRFKYPWS-7oBgdokz5Nbt5SlgYT2aGjlQJ65N9hSCDSjMVr1x7QrnboJCp5gRUrLUm9mAqgcL92NLlLtPOgaPUNKiaXs2XRgsh7Wf-_76M_jaoZESxdH3oXnP0aab7IT23iwgZQ8t0HFnWZWcr/s320/IMG-20220820-WA0016.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stuart and Dawn look chilled</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoqkWaX9TAJ4JU20ZB_I80UXLwG-570U6c-ooYv8UUgrn6k0hn1Kqrk1M8FyrqoHc7JiMFlwbYCAXVjEUWfL24EnnlmwioUhY-E5s5dqHQCGNrpYr2CKJPcP5OhoK70jXPEposHPPz4KFcPfHkkGXsT75LRig-nIBXj3nFQtRu40FdlCd8CQtSXA7/s4000/20220820_185014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoqkWaX9TAJ4JU20ZB_I80UXLwG-570U6c-ooYv8UUgrn6k0hn1Kqrk1M8FyrqoHc7JiMFlwbYCAXVjEUWfL24EnnlmwioUhY-E5s5dqHQCGNrpYr2CKJPcP5OhoK70jXPEposHPPz4KFcPfHkkGXsT75LRig-nIBXj3nFQtRu40FdlCd8CQtSXA7/s320/20220820_185014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kate, Adam and Peter look... not sure of the correct adjective</div><p>T<b>he full species count for new birds was: </b></p><p>Blackcap 1394, Whitethroat 409, Sedge Warbler 349, Willow Warbler 285, Reed Warbler 178, Robin 93, Lesser Whitethroat 72, Garden Warbler 70, Chiffchaff 49, Grasshopper Warbler 40, Blue Tit 27, Redstart 14, Wren 12, Goldcrest 10, Swallow 9, Long-tailed Tit 8, Reed Bunting 7, Blackbird 5, Song Thrush 5, Cetti's Warbler 5, Stock Dove 4, Whinchat 4, Linnet 4, Spotted Flycatcher 3, Great Tit 3, Sand Martin 2, Dunnock 2, Bullfinch 2, and single Tawny Owl, Pied Flycatcher, Wryneck , Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, and Goldfinch!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AvGuSm3A4MVGUeA8x6mx7hUV1ig6GdoJHLkrbUALjOfux1m3eJvPH7FEprOf-g4U_D-34K1CRyhrEDiZrHOjhs1MkCvZP4qlWejYV6tXv-EL51EJhX50X_sf9SwA4WOLOpZ7awiiK0wK6Qr8EUggQKROD3MEBXNB5eyhMEGngozWEAQZ3Z3ZCQtB/s1024/IMG-20220828-WA0006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AvGuSm3A4MVGUeA8x6mx7hUV1ig6GdoJHLkrbUALjOfux1m3eJvPH7FEprOf-g4U_D-34K1CRyhrEDiZrHOjhs1MkCvZP4qlWejYV6tXv-EL51EJhX50X_sf9SwA4WOLOpZ7awiiK0wK6Qr8EUggQKROD3MEBXNB5eyhMEGngozWEAQZ3Z3ZCQtB/s320/IMG-20220828-WA0006.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">A young Tawny- great way to start the week</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QtOp5TbtjuS_eaM_JQSOOBazfUwsHGW-1LdxQgPmR_Mar4Qookz13n-5lyg23iPfo1HJgmPK9F7RSCE-_ebeXXh2XCq2UXKhnBTuekDrIGkdUMhfi8fKM_6NYTkvFs8oU0fn_HHWnmGpY6z6jxr0F9YvQp94CgbAV3hYBvHMnu7gmhNpKhyrpbfE/s2048/IMG-20220826-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QtOp5TbtjuS_eaM_JQSOOBazfUwsHGW-1LdxQgPmR_Mar4Qookz13n-5lyg23iPfo1HJgmPK9F7RSCE-_ebeXXh2XCq2UXKhnBTuekDrIGkdUMhfi8fKM_6NYTkvFs8oU0fn_HHWnmGpY6z6jxr0F9YvQp94CgbAV3hYBvHMnu7gmhNpKhyrpbfE/s320/IMG-20220826-WA0000.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Very smart juvenile Whinchat</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2v3h6b5lweVBKok2qw-qK2hJkKmkt6_xVNgxT5xTID500f0bHscHPCvIBN1eHdvTFyXkItApSf0MXz9YupfEI80TNvfYhL72592SrVyl8vh3xB-VyivHO0VWmmYKTXASHWMU5aOkFRes9QqbJLT89dHQ-T-Vb0Bln0dmjgAJYqqreFbgsHTGl8Lf/s2048/IMG-20220828-WA0011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2v3h6b5lweVBKok2qw-qK2hJkKmkt6_xVNgxT5xTID500f0bHscHPCvIBN1eHdvTFyXkItApSf0MXz9YupfEI80TNvfYhL72592SrVyl8vh3xB-VyivHO0VWmmYKTXASHWMU5aOkFRes9QqbJLT89dHQ-T-Vb0Bln0dmjgAJYqqreFbgsHTGl8Lf/s320/IMG-20220828-WA0011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Juvenile male Pied Flycatcher</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzy1f_Quia1X1_BAA1Fnh1rDW-OTHz6bRo-I8Sr8jIBRxlnT7TKS401vVcn_6D842Um3lYdxKlVxotqLV7iZyW7CuN7AaTFWw3SNjMy43Ggi_y5byUAnAwPRoqqVHCGQAGoC6p9kvriu7DFgvmYo9Dxxzz-tXQOMWHZVI4lS0OMXziS1DdMD59s05/s1024/IMG-20220830-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="805" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzy1f_Quia1X1_BAA1Fnh1rDW-OTHz6bRo-I8Sr8jIBRxlnT7TKS401vVcn_6D842Um3lYdxKlVxotqLV7iZyW7CuN7AaTFWw3SNjMy43Ggi_y5byUAnAwPRoqqVHCGQAGoC6p9kvriu7DFgvmYo9Dxxzz-tXQOMWHZVI4lS0OMXziS1DdMD59s05/s320/IMG-20220830-WA0001.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What is getting to be an annual event; Wryneck- a great way to finish the week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So that is a total of 3,067 new birds, plus 422 retraps and 14 controls over the 10 days, beating last year's new bird total of a mere 1795 by a whopping 1272! Origin of the controls will be confirmed in the annual report due out at the end of January; look out for it on <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/">stanfordrg.org.uk</a></div><div>Time for a well earned rest... only joking, time to go out ringing once again!</div><div><p><br /></p></div>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-86833447015582679282022-07-14T15:31:00.006+01:002022-07-14T16:13:49.101+01:00Great Morning at the Reservoir<p>We usually ring on a Saturday, weather permitting. We have recently had a number of excellent sessions, and been moving around the site, starting to ring lots of juvenile birds; our resident birds seem to be having a really good season. These sessions are augmented by midweek ringing, usually with Mick or Adam, both retired, both keen.</p><p>Tuesday 12 July was designated as a mid week excursion, and as if by magic, suddenly a big chunk of the team were available! So... Mick and Adam set up in the Paddock, Stuart and Kate ambled over to Blower's Bay, and Dave and I, plus Jade our new trainee, donned waders and staggered into the Leics reedbed.</p><p>Everyone had a good morning, M&A ringed 87 new and retrapped 18, S&K ringed 45 new and retrapped 18. These were a good representative bunch of pretty much what we would expect at this time of the year, good numbers of Blackcap, Robin, Chiffchaff, Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers and sundry others. Very nice.</p><p>Over in the reedbed, much to everyone's surprise, things were afoot! Firstly, we ringed a slightly drab 3J female Nuthatch, which was a ringing tick for Jade, as well as being a bird that we don't necessarily catch every year. This was in fact the first for the year! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbT6gjwzUFKB2sLxJnbOguMBamTxOUQPvd0Ua1Tl3j8d3rb-u8_W2knya_n7h4zhKSQX4_gNg2-kkq5T6tOTbhtIByYo4RI2QEDlobh-0Y0G6QIbh4XHxsSBhuzJS-vFhp5Thgt9DrwUQQcCfO1mUcwCW9S_JJzNsuPxSH-NdtoFWlBciqjpQQPhP/s4000/nuthatch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbT6gjwzUFKB2sLxJnbOguMBamTxOUQPvd0Ua1Tl3j8d3rb-u8_W2knya_n7h4zhKSQX4_gNg2-kkq5T6tOTbhtIByYo4RI2QEDlobh-0Y0G6QIbh4XHxsSBhuzJS-vFhp5Thgt9DrwUQQcCfO1mUcwCW9S_JJzNsuPxSH-NdtoFWlBciqjpQQPhP/w188-h251/nuthatch.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>At Mick's suggestion, Dave and I put up a 40' two shelfed net out to a patch of shingle, exposed as the water level has dropped. At 0900 I went out and found a large brown bird next to the shore! I promptly extracted it and brought it back:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFD1PQVgHDjaflH5MevODteEm9qwDlmzHR0NPP2Y9KqjLFyboval5ewbx6aPuj7o3UHuXXbi-ChvioU0uyVHmVhQaBbRqRTm3ogUgb0uQ3CjWMofmK5cOERXX5DLb2dAHfFDKrNdDORFu6dIi1agwZzkmgUGBkgCkyOZ2DQ6vXJPQ3WHfsrCaRJtt/s1538/MH2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="1276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFD1PQVgHDjaflH5MevODteEm9qwDlmzHR0NPP2Y9KqjLFyboval5ewbx6aPuj7o3UHuXXbi-ChvioU0uyVHmVhQaBbRqRTm3ogUgb0uQ3CjWMofmK5cOERXX5DLb2dAHfFDKrNdDORFu6dIi1agwZzkmgUGBkgCkyOZ2DQ6vXJPQ3WHfsrCaRJtt/s320/MH2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wow! the first Moorhen since 2009, and a full adult to boot! I don't think that Jade could believe her luck as Dave helped her put an F ring on, jammy is perhaps the term that springs to mind:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH31XNCKZIQm-Nf4bC2hSvFguOOT1V9CzaV-ABbvhdhOIWSI9fMUogAr5qodh790PkU6ioaX2XIXM_H-EPlItqAMg6hn6YO7T4fBM6pvEbUWxx5oc-vA5LjryYJHnG9C27sCO1w0-zCdIqkwsuwL3It_aYXszUPqPtz6PvQmYR5jUqaO0eh08InWdm/s4000/J&D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH31XNCKZIQm-Nf4bC2hSvFguOOT1V9CzaV-ABbvhdhOIWSI9fMUogAr5qodh790PkU6ioaX2XIXM_H-EPlItqAMg6hn6YO7T4fBM6pvEbUWxx5oc-vA5LjryYJHnG9C27sCO1w0-zCdIqkwsuwL3It_aYXszUPqPtz6PvQmYR5jUqaO0eh08InWdm/s320/J&D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That made it a brilliant session, two new species for the year and loads of Reed and Sedge Warblers. Come 1100 it was time to take down the nets as it was getting warm, and Dave was in need of beer. The final net to come down was a 60' in the scrub leading up to the ringing station. As I trundled over, Jade appeared in a state of agitation- there was a possible bird of prey in the net, let's get a move on! Cripes, what was it? Most likely it would be a Sparrowhawk (we get 2/3 per year), which would be good. Less likely it would be a Kestrel which we get every couple of years, which would be brilliant!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But no, it was something else...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRSbxA5_W5elNu_TDqYsGakZeDDBplXRQdPD718EGl0ZVt4KzH4VkA0IoqTyiqTlA7uMMDaEbCv0pM9lwkgeyy8uqGj34POBfEgIdyO3WnfbLCv7QYGCuHhbLCd97AwezgyERBHuBT-K2FiCXhVdR0_IrG7zws3HPPtgKBtAUJoLLWRt_3VefCDGb/s2048/Hobby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRSbxA5_W5elNu_TDqYsGakZeDDBplXRQdPD718EGl0ZVt4KzH4VkA0IoqTyiqTlA7uMMDaEbCv0pM9lwkgeyy8uqGj34POBfEgIdyO3WnfbLCv7QYGCuHhbLCd97AwezgyERBHuBT-K2FiCXhVdR0_IrG7zws3HPPtgKBtAUJoLLWRt_3VefCDGb/s320/Hobby.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div>Triple cripes, it was a Hobby, the only one ringed at Stanford ever! Ever! These catch dragonflies and hirundines in mid air for a living and are amazing birds, so quite what it was doing in the lower shelves of a mist net tucked into scrub is a bit of a mystery. Anyway, after some mild exclamations of surprise, I extracted it, which was fun and a bit pecky. Back at the ringing station I asked Dave if he fancied putting a ring on it. He thought about it a bit and decided that on balance he probably did. What a bird! Quite small, but very solid and muscular. We aged it as a five (hatched last year) male:<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZEOyFfgG7ToC56h3RmCjuXt6pZgcxNoQ9jTM5Nc61TLPbSgYeRaCedCp17G1sAaHRNo7raq7Hc1stdW0J4NNFtajDwoZpSF2g3z1bV5o9aHE3WAgmPazu0q1EIEyblCi7qMILHS4hQqCd4hZO8KuGnGAkXZlulXTM8XWwUWQDO9o7BkdBoUlVQhl/s1511/IMG-20220712-WA0006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZEOyFfgG7ToC56h3RmCjuXt6pZgcxNoQ9jTM5Nc61TLPbSgYeRaCedCp17G1sAaHRNo7raq7Hc1stdW0J4NNFtajDwoZpSF2g3z1bV5o9aHE3WAgmPazu0q1EIEyblCi7qMILHS4hQqCd4hZO8KuGnGAkXZlulXTM8XWwUWQDO9o7BkdBoUlVQhl/w195-h320/IMG-20220712-WA0006.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>So that was the third new species for the day. We ringed a total of 80 plus 32 retraps. So the group <i>en masse</i> ringed a grand total of 212 new and 68 retrapped. What a day!</div><div><div>Peter N<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-39907611745080171142022-05-29T12:26:00.001+01:002022-05-29T14:00:48.835+01:00A Foray into Darkest Leicestershire<p> As followers of this blog may know, most of our ringing is based on the rail track access courtesy of Parker Farms, which is in Northants. The border between Northants and Leics actually runs through the reservoir, and so when we went ringing in the Paddock on Saturday 28th May, we crossed into the badlands of Leicestershire. Mick, Dave, Jo and Jade (a potential trainee) put up nets along the Paddock, whilst Adam, Peter and Stuart went into the Reedbed, a few minutes walk further along. </p><p>Results were largely in line with expectations for the time of year; in the Paddock there were 13 new and 18 retraps, in the Reedbed 29 new and 33 retraps. The major surprise of the session was an adult Jackdaw which wandered into one of the nets in the Paddock, no doubt looking for food for a hungry brood. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS06a6zzv3HFlHN1mjD_Gb8IQPhYgozkzUcSmnxv9WINZHOVcu2tU-nCLJr3wX81fAxawUY803HGREQTe5-dktCWTUy8JIG9TOZcB5DxHG_xEIaY-OX4bwd8DdSGChPAUbSW1HWUFkMmMCXoOczTT_JPCrTJd6VFR4r-tS2_k9Qgp4GX81F_pIqwZH/s1600/IMG-20220528-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS06a6zzv3HFlHN1mjD_Gb8IQPhYgozkzUcSmnxv9WINZHOVcu2tU-nCLJr3wX81fAxawUY803HGREQTe5-dktCWTUy8JIG9TOZcB5DxHG_xEIaY-OX4bwd8DdSGChPAUbSW1HWUFkMmMCXoOczTT_JPCrTJd6VFR4r-tS2_k9Qgp4GX81F_pIqwZH/s320/IMG-20220528-WA0000.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Adult Jackdaw</i></div><p>We do get to ring a number of Jackdaw as pulli (nestlings) in boxes, but this has never happened in all the 40 years that Mick has been ringing at Stanford! Whatever next?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzhHr1i3v9ELlpb9Dpe_ZlWnR_WSAVJrPHZhnXkgZxQsH4-1kQgAIfGj2DEn1lih9OfikeLWLzdVgEytQdlE6055tJ8gCxYldRsKHZ20KgPiVtr7508myNNPv_YSt419USXyycSrCfxfFKTTVw6FzuLAsYBL239ruPVQPnaMy9f5ngFzQ3BlHaGx-/s2048/IMG-20220528-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzhHr1i3v9ELlpb9Dpe_ZlWnR_WSAVJrPHZhnXkgZxQsH4-1kQgAIfGj2DEn1lih9OfikeLWLzdVgEytQdlE6055tJ8gCxYldRsKHZ20KgPiVtr7508myNNPv_YSt419USXyycSrCfxfFKTTVw6FzuLAsYBL239ruPVQPnaMy9f5ngFzQ3BlHaGx-/s320/IMG-20220528-WA0002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Adam and Peter, in the distance, messing around at the end of the dog leg in the Reedbed</i></div><p>Meanwhile, in the Reedbed, it was nice to see a good return of Reed Warblers; we had 26 birds ringed by us in previous years safely arrived back for the breeding season. This makes them our most site faithful species. The oldest was ringed six years and 354 days ago. Given that it is of the order of 3,500 miles from Stanford to their wintering grounds in West Africa, that means it has around 42,000 miles on the clock! Not bad for a little bird which weighs about 12 grams, or 1.5 times the weight of a pound coin. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzo1DDjJccmddd6Fb9IPj0yFEd8GAxIsFtwvYZ44pnHvJOZQXJ0qL7CPal9hrliCMeZPXlEFzsovIvdcC2ZcLY3PDNF9iUSLGemCKCrWGZLmCdUGtkAOtSubEKChIGgZ7Io4w3CpuKpxBKeeEFtUT-5fm2jgVCVaeE_1TG_DxQ4V3zVXvxRh2uDFS/s1024/IMG-20220528-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzo1DDjJccmddd6Fb9IPj0yFEd8GAxIsFtwvYZ44pnHvJOZQXJ0qL7CPal9hrliCMeZPXlEFzsovIvdcC2ZcLY3PDNF9iUSLGemCKCrWGZLmCdUGtkAOtSubEKChIGgZ7Io4w3CpuKpxBKeeEFtUT-5fm2jgVCVaeE_1TG_DxQ4V3zVXvxRh2uDFS/s320/IMG-20220528-WA0001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Barn Owl chicks</i></div><p>Adam, whose work ethic cannot be faulted, also checked a nest box to find a lovely brood of Barn Owl chicks. These were very recently hatched and too small to be ringed, but we will of course return in a few weeks time to do the decent thing. </p><p>Add into all this a steady trickle of juvenile birds, including Chiffchaff, Robins and Dunnocks, and it is shaping up to be a good season. We are now back into our usual ringing on Saturday mornings; watch this space for further adventures with the mighty SRG!</p><p>Peter N</p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-52189174956507374112022-05-01T11:44:00.002+01:002022-05-01T11:46:23.130+01:002022 Beckons!<p>Fantastic to be out and ringing again. Scrub bashing is over and we are starting regular Saturday sessions. Ringing is a bit hit and miss this early in the year, but we are pleased to report a good return of our migrants. Warblers are our speciality and we have already ringed Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Garden, Grasshopper, Willow, Reed, Sedge, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat (a personal favourite), as well as our local overwintering birds. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNM9TU6XmPQM7slL-NB5eke0lGGwMfoL-IwUg_NBpTYBH_9JJGey3k4jQAbajtVlVQZL60vOvLgfBLNDdqDl25N-w5F_YUaSFDe7c0BE57H-p78Q96Yh7VXLWpwm4P1ZMqEjuOXwdNJuPMAw4kqHZyt4uVPt38SiFQHxbnH2K-X20_Olr-RHYP3rf/s1024/IMG-20220416-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNM9TU6XmPQM7slL-NB5eke0lGGwMfoL-IwUg_NBpTYBH_9JJGey3k4jQAbajtVlVQZL60vOvLgfBLNDdqDl25N-w5F_YUaSFDe7c0BE57H-p78Q96Yh7VXLWpwm4P1ZMqEjuOXwdNJuPMAw4kqHZyt4uVPt38SiFQHxbnH2K-X20_Olr-RHYP3rf/s320/IMG-20220416-WA0001.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">First Gropper of the year (photo AGH)</p><p style="text-align: left;">On Saturday 30 April, Peter Mick and Stuart were out bright and early and put up nets from Church to Berries, a total of 15 nets. Pete B joined us a bit later. Numbers were decent for the time of year, with 16 new and 28 retraps. Whilst having a tea break, Stuart noticed a Robin busily returning to a nest just behind the ringing station (i.e. Mick's Kia). Mick promptly retrieved three pulli (nestlings), which Stuart ringed:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW_bzXmM0RcAlE77tNv46U6RXPH_-iWfuqVA_5fI7H20vpvUYZoUI2jxA_JqL2pLliza0mv5xvps0YvlzoSeggttVA8o1xrPfx4kQIszn4gFaiBunLNiAVq0Ns-kWBfKGnnjwvi-PbgbWa3F2Y0CWCTHYzO0hVTi3iS8TvH2oUEA0MV8BXcCGXaCU/s4000/20220430_110422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW_bzXmM0RcAlE77tNv46U6RXPH_-iWfuqVA_5fI7H20vpvUYZoUI2jxA_JqL2pLliza0mv5xvps0YvlzoSeggttVA8o1xrPfx4kQIszn4gFaiBunLNiAVq0Ns-kWBfKGnnjwvi-PbgbWa3F2Y0CWCTHYzO0hVTi3iS8TvH2oUEA0MV8BXcCGXaCU/s320/20220430_110422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stuart concentrating. Pete B assists</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8hoHy4mcqcfjQbr8TngEIwVIpi7ijT3Hiylk-ELxwbgNIXcMAiUYaba1du58vQ3E3MLDaaomSGSBPH82Du31vWjd2BxFVJOfCFQ_WMedOpABWbut7CZTiE4dwXpzBDs1gKzmuiXZCBmwaDg5HfE4kmq_BnS5YBex13dJ8aipUWI_DykoF5FQNrzV/s4000/20220430_110433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8hoHy4mcqcfjQbr8TngEIwVIpi7ijT3Hiylk-ELxwbgNIXcMAiUYaba1du58vQ3E3MLDaaomSGSBPH82Du31vWjd2BxFVJOfCFQ_WMedOpABWbut7CZTiE4dwXpzBDs1gKzmuiXZCBmwaDg5HfE4kmq_BnS5YBex13dJ8aipUWI_DykoF5FQNrzV/s320/20220430_110433.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ringed Robin Pullus</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If anyone is interested in joining us or coming to visit, feel free to contact me via 25pnorrie@gmail.com. It should be an interesting year as we have already ringed a couple of unusual species, and it follows three excellent ones!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-19034473458477482152022-02-02T16:34:00.001+00:002022-02-02T16:34:10.621+00:00Annual Report 2021 Now Posted<p>Just a quick note as the wind whistles around us... annual report for what is generally held to be our third best ever year (up against some stiff competition from recent years) is now available on <a href="http://www.stanfordrg.org.uk/srgstats/2021-annrep.pdf">www.stanfordrg.org.uk/srgstats/2021-annrep.pdf</a></p><p>Otherwise we are scrub bashing until the end of March, all are welcome to join us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcovJNdAAWUYoS-JORC7qeMN7kWGJGI8j5z9PCQ9V2ve1ImOZuOGNxZNPsPxEuSUOGbVE7v8nJiwNyQEgGqDquZ5T4EzP5D7U9jgmssQSMF9k8zWmy3HAXvRMkNhQcM3F3zBPkvmkfIiUA_ZMp1hFIsU4MCxPAAE6TC4VmEX2fC47gjAguEA5UTR3s=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcovJNdAAWUYoS-JORC7qeMN7kWGJGI8j5z9PCQ9V2ve1ImOZuOGNxZNPsPxEuSUOGbVE7v8nJiwNyQEgGqDquZ5T4EzP5D7U9jgmssQSMF9k8zWmy3HAXvRMkNhQcM3F3zBPkvmkfIiUA_ZMp1hFIsU4MCxPAAE6TC4VmEX2fC47gjAguEA5UTR3s=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">How many men does it take to light one fire?</p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-6221683344267730542022-01-31T15:20:00.000+00:002022-01-31T15:20:01.100+00:00Finch Ringing on the Top Road<div style="text-align: left;">Due to the Beech nut
failure in 2021, we have been laying down Black Sunflower seeds under
the Beech trees near the entrance to the dam at Stanford reservoir.</div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Bramblings are a
brightly coloured Scandinavian finch closely related to the Chaffinch
and a regular winter visitor to the UK, but not necessarily Stanford.
In recent weeks there have been up to 20 reported feeding among the
Chaffinches, but that is nothing compared to some flocks of several
hundreds reported at other sites in the Midlands.</div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">On Sunday 30th
January, Mick, Theo and I took advantage of the short spell of good
weather to spend a morning ringing on the 'Top Road'. It was a cold
misty morning on arrival and we quickly set up a line of four nets. Soon after the mist
cleared, finches started to gather to feed on the road and grass
verge in good numbers of up to 50 birds at a time.</div>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A handful of
Brambling could already be picked out amongst the numerous
Chaffinches. Our first visit to the nets took us all by surprise when
we found 10 Bramblings, our highest catch since the winter of 94/95! </p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNjFXSRc0l-AaBW8dnBXIcrxWjPdCWQhQNp_tQyj0JMY6mPgxvHiwhIDIwqwbEiwa5Cr_dOgI1KuYI3MBIr6ER8CdGiJv8Ei2Ok1wl-lSHs6kHI93iz1WLHXXr7vgeJaXmt1OgDLXOsGV5zWoSxvL07WW8yD73uGrGkUPRyDhObA_0QHpeYtTK2GJV=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNjFXSRc0l-AaBW8dnBXIcrxWjPdCWQhQNp_tQyj0JMY6mPgxvHiwhIDIwqwbEiwa5Cr_dOgI1KuYI3MBIr6ER8CdGiJv8Ei2Ok1wl-lSHs6kHI93iz1WLHXXr7vgeJaXmt1OgDLXOsGV5zWoSxvL07WW8yD73uGrGkUPRyDhObA_0QHpeYtTK2GJV=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We caught another
two by the end of the morning, along with 15 Chaffinches, one
Goldfinch, one Icelandic type Redwing, one Blackbird, four Blue Tits,
two great Tits and a retrap Nuthatch.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihTXIvSDrGMLnRo86D1aPk6x7STdDIsBt4NbzZfC4xRaHdDZLajc0yXohetJlIvrDWL65dxKW0IFFLzbLY6PPjjRTd-YuqkGVg5tiSxbNaLUgDewVHL1hk989n1pULPfA3Ub51pS_JDZHBnFbk9SLWR3Y0qMC7_yRS6Jw1B0PqWwP6dr233JA1so25=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihTXIvSDrGMLnRo86D1aPk6x7STdDIsBt4NbzZfC4xRaHdDZLajc0yXohetJlIvrDWL65dxKW0IFFLzbLY6PPjjRTd-YuqkGVg5tiSxbNaLUgDewVHL1hk989n1pULPfA3Ub51pS_JDZHBnFbk9SLWR3Y0qMC7_yRS6Jw1B0PqWwP6dr233JA1so25=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8ssvuhrvpGpAdnXSltuTr6h2KQPz74ZvozMra5xr9FhJJSBVDTqNXfotTTf1uuEjJKu-vojpmyainMRZicK-lYgDqY5NDZTAWY1ZZoiEqnkfu8-eYIXFVkQSgZ6yWcseYGGqbKd1coql2ACQfxA9ME2IGZj308sw7uq8d0EXKRp-iBBYcSCcIW8r2=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8ssvuhrvpGpAdnXSltuTr6h2KQPz74ZvozMra5xr9FhJJSBVDTqNXfotTTf1uuEjJKu-vojpmyainMRZicK-lYgDqY5NDZTAWY1ZZoiEqnkfu8-eYIXFVkQSgZ6yWcseYGGqbKd1coql2ACQfxA9ME2IGZj308sw7uq8d0EXKRp-iBBYcSCcIW8r2=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgrK484ob6_doEnCnmr03SiwyCihb7ZJNk2xwe7Td4gcOzAWlFkSG8QGod0Z_gw30vpWT17effZab7ShruefGI8Weypgq1D5uAeIDcLUYvVeNIWiFkEfxI9p2x492fDquiWqkJ-Lhd4nQTycxcf4_wrx_iU1uX0wZhoJ3o1pZhsaWSETAh6TF6tIMd=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgrK484ob6_doEnCnmr03SiwyCihb7ZJNk2xwe7Td4gcOzAWlFkSG8QGod0Z_gw30vpWT17effZab7ShruefGI8Weypgq1D5uAeIDcLUYvVeNIWiFkEfxI9p2x492fDquiWqkJ-Lhd4nQTycxcf4_wrx_iU1uX0wZhoJ3o1pZhsaWSETAh6TF6tIMd=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">As you can see from
the photos, above, occasionally there will be a bumper crop when they
will be almost peanut size. These are called 'mast years' and should
occur every 5-10 years.
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">AGH</p><p><br /></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-37282606165836177872021-12-17T15:29:00.001+00:002021-12-17T16:04:35.225+00:00Sand Martins at StanfordWe are now the proud possessors of two new bespoke spanking new Sand Martin Cabinets at Stanford Reservoir, with room for 96 pairs. The main funding for this came from Tarmac's Landfill Communities Fund, plus a 10% contribution from the SRG. The project was supported by Severn Trent, so thanks also to our ranger Ian Martindale and to the Senior Biodiversity Manager Zara Frankton who have encouraged us throughout. We chose a site which is currently underutilised with expansive views over the water, 10 minutes walk from the dam carpark, heading towards Blowers' Bay:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaFZYIQGw8kexUotv4Kxi5VxMFdDPOJybcuqWDHrKZGczynzIOEZw9-17M8PZrV9MTmauGZF_YJqjJ-hrRBRaNRqpgs5QD4T1xEqflxD73t_lcdQ5DUDFPPxFp3YO23ufZI2Xir97iotkO37x7ezHSdJMHletPwDGN4WlIqdsHjrOOCpfB65KCgA5m=s4000" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaFZYIQGw8kexUotv4Kxi5VxMFdDPOJybcuqWDHrKZGczynzIOEZw9-17M8PZrV9MTmauGZF_YJqjJ-hrRBRaNRqpgs5QD4T1xEqflxD73t_lcdQ5DUDFPPxFp3YO23ufZI2Xir97iotkO37x7ezHSdJMHletPwDGN4WlIqdsHjrOOCpfB65KCgA5m=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Preparing the site</div><div><br /></div>
The cabinets were supplied by Green Future Building, a Social Enterprise company. The van arrived on the 30th November, and promptly sank into the Stanford mud. Many thanks to Ian Martindale who spent an unplanned morning ferrying parts along the track for construction in his 4 by4 and thanks also to Chris Begley who was dragooned into action.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn1dNMZdJXZfmmjqJv7VtbuWgYsdwdPmAtap1c3yOJm-MSBP5oaSUA8ccKcvmgcKygHzAQT73_j9BXx7g5wxHjJYjb2X89Ic5pTXxStReXxgQIVvog2Oe2IRM1xT1Da40yVfpjjt73qOOSnuc5Gw2YqeFqBiCZAkc7PsIoiHTbWLOBjgeSJnLRgwfQ=s4000" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn1dNMZdJXZfmmjqJv7VtbuWgYsdwdPmAtap1c3yOJm-MSBP5oaSUA8ccKcvmgcKygHzAQT73_j9BXx7g5wxHjJYjb2X89Ic5pTXxStReXxgQIVvog2Oe2IRM1xT1Da40yVfpjjt73qOOSnuc5Gw2YqeFqBiCZAkc7PsIoiHTbWLOBjgeSJnLRgwfQ=s320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Under construction, showing the chambers for nests</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCx6n8CtYMjmRUqXsefOIfz9ktg6E1UAJezK71ad3teU87qKNHRykyzdx3AvZmePYax4fBmsVSEVHbebtCHGRoXvqGT_vpnH_jjuN2H02RDnOksOOmRwkfLSijHvIGOK2hLg7NZ7UzkEFd9U3TtlmHHNXA6puvccPZKFQG4s1Z_HBpoAVc56IPVVhe=s2000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCx6n8CtYMjmRUqXsefOIfz9ktg6E1UAJezK71ad3teU87qKNHRykyzdx3AvZmePYax4fBmsVSEVHbebtCHGRoXvqGT_vpnH_jjuN2H02RDnOksOOmRwkfLSijHvIGOK2hLg7NZ7UzkEFd9U3TtlmHHNXA6puvccPZKFQG4s1Z_HBpoAVc56IPVVhe=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Completed, looking towards the Point </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Despite this setback, the banks were completed on the same day, finishing by 1500. The grand unveiling took place on 16 December, a bright point in an otherwise rather grim year. Mince pies and mulled wine were supplied, but everyone behaved themselves. Present luminaries included Mick (Group Leader), Adam (Secretary), Dave (Treasurer), Dawn (SRG member), Mike Alibone (ex Northants County Recorder and blogger), Ian (ST Ranger) and Chris Hubbard, local birder to the gentry. Special thanks to Jamie Prpa of Tarmac, without whom the project could not have proceeded. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmYvY915F2jU5AChIXURuaClZzNhMla5vwasuHCl2XR8kSu_9PTYVa7HL8gcA37jXZMOULWzSGn_uso_YqFBTcF81F1L1qT6268VS7TYYV-u-ghT1wabXTJNJR_9DzgzDkBtnjX9Zpi4WqrV3d7UoRNKFXsSfz6CONDKiqlmB6QvT7WMzTgNQtQkiO=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmYvY915F2jU5AChIXURuaClZzNhMla5vwasuHCl2XR8kSu_9PTYVa7HL8gcA37jXZMOULWzSGn_uso_YqFBTcF81F1L1qT6268VS7TYYV-u-ghT1wabXTJNJR_9DzgzDkBtnjX9Zpi4WqrV3d7UoRNKFXsSfz6CONDKiqlmB6QvT7WMzTgNQtQkiO=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Ian, Mick, Adam, Dawn, Jamie, Dave</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Come March, we are looking forward to the arrival of our Sand Martins. Fingers (and any other relevant parts) crossed that they take up residence, a great boost for biodiversity at Stanford!</div>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-91014511835183484982021-11-12T14:18:00.001+00:002021-11-12T14:18:52.760+00:00Autumn Has Arrived <i>'All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey'</i>; well that's about the only similarity we have with the Mamas and the Papas, but the autumnal winds have picked up and it has been wet too. Now that Adam our eminent group secretary has retired, he and Mick have been working hard at mid week ringing, in addition to our regular Saturday sessions. In September we ringed 2248 birds and in October 937, reflecting the departure of our migrant warblers. On the other hand we are now starting to get decent numbers of Redwings and a few Fieldfare to boost totals.
This is also a good time of year for rarities, but the winds have been all wrong! Ideally they would be from the north-east, bringing birds down from continental europe, but sadly they have been largely from the west, blowing not much in from the Atlantic (apart from rain).
However, we still have had some if not actually rare, then certainly unusual birds for the site, turning up in our nets. These include a Skylark, Magpie and Kestrel, which have helped to increase our annual species account to 59. All birds are good, but saving the best to the last, we have also ringed a very nice male Brambling:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHe_zF5dRHwNxYT2oDhR_mgiw4JfYQGk9IBkNtr4cnCIw3poktlMce-GakxfbmIwE8oEFusCCqaaDk3zvlsZj0pu1khAzzRs-6XLntlOv72yClRCDyjDO1QRDE5TxLjS5PX-bOTglh6gGQyDtj6eZzz9jOrkHMqB645aQ9awzeiDMAdiauoENAwifl=s2048" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHe_zF5dRHwNxYT2oDhR_mgiw4JfYQGk9IBkNtr4cnCIw3poktlMce-GakxfbmIwE8oEFusCCqaaDk3zvlsZj0pu1khAzzRs-6XLntlOv72yClRCDyjDO1QRDE5TxLjS5PX-bOTglh6gGQyDtj6eZzz9jOrkHMqB645aQ9awzeiDMAdiauoENAwifl=s320"/></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5kqyRdC0zuo9pDvWYwrEkC6kD6wVFfIJoVKbrbHMWBBSebpk3ITKctbW3ErR4XQ8pCaBRd3Vr4eXB6e8JtVmpi-j3VDNPsFw7xNjWZYLF3mQvpoqyhdfz1ib0mRAM9aUbqaVJl0D6aUcCHQOwnGg-GHdC4Su3N4RanIOI34nZPT2GrBxiBpdRXvq=s2048" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5kqyRdC0zuo9pDvWYwrEkC6kD6wVFfIJoVKbrbHMWBBSebpk3ITKctbW3ErR4XQ8pCaBRd3Vr4eXB6e8JtVmpi-j3VDNPsFw7xNjWZYLF3mQvpoqyhdfz1ib0mRAM9aUbqaVJl0D6aUcCHQOwnGg-GHdC4Su3N4RanIOI34nZPT2GrBxiBpdRXvq=s320"/></a></div>
And lastly, a once per year, if we are lucky visitor, this spanking Yellow Browed Warbler:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4TCkzS1WxRt6ilg4Rq-fIwU7TehUsU80f-c2aDtJpjKNm14l5-WrjfNck3buVxOA9U8qozcIjvz29pqAfa6C7a69vZx6U30vjgecZMBjHWI9iOpUGUt_uDV8AbRvQzF-h1UjmXIKA6tILWKQD7lKoMl0zBkfBKez4vS9nShTJnyv2kWt7ayl0HRcF=s2048" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4TCkzS1WxRt6ilg4Rq-fIwU7TehUsU80f-c2aDtJpjKNm14l5-WrjfNck3buVxOA9U8qozcIjvz29pqAfa6C7a69vZx6U30vjgecZMBjHWI9iOpUGUt_uDV8AbRvQzF-h1UjmXIKA6tILWKQD7lKoMl0zBkfBKez4vS9nShTJnyv2kWt7ayl0HRcF=s320"/></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK2xBk2Dm52ERLM94voSrkfnQAP3MT7ZbVF5WPWrYLxYoek71UifNh1Q5ZzYvWSdPPBzzXfMdrwinoMV0rXZ2tbd-8bH2fKzlG0pdwLOoj_W0KB7dgA8DKxVhD5pui3apJhv9906ugllWIm6NJwwzJXgZfLncjejimIT0WQo-nNArCLnH0uiwa_e-9=s1196" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiK2xBk2Dm52ERLM94voSrkfnQAP3MT7ZbVF5WPWrYLxYoek71UifNh1Q5ZzYvWSdPPBzzXfMdrwinoMV0rXZ2tbd-8bH2fKzlG0pdwLOoj_W0KB7dgA8DKxVhD5pui3apJhv9906ugllWIm6NJwwzJXgZfLncjejimIT0WQo-nNArCLnH0uiwa_e-9=s320"/></a></div>
I wonder what is next?Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-17353460852551315842021-09-14T18:16:00.002+01:002021-09-14T20:00:52.279+01:00Apologies to Lord Kitchener!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7myTzqwHRg/YUDJ2dgJQOI/AAAAAAAAArQ/jF9B2V5WBYwEbuPAz0LE9KqcNseyLLE6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s777/Stanstock%2B2%2Bposter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="777" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7myTzqwHRg/YUDJ2dgJQOI/AAAAAAAAArQ/jF9B2V5WBYwEbuPAz0LE9KqcNseyLLE6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Stanstock%2B2%2Bposter.png" width="320" /></a></div>This was our second celebration of migration at Stanford Reservoir. The plan was to do some ringing every day in the last week of August, with a presence camping out each day; however in an almost exact repeat of last year, rain and wind made the first two days unproductive, so we concentrated on Tuesday through to the Bank Holiday. <p></p><p>Despite it being cool and with a distinct lack of sunshine the group responded magnificently and we ringed a grand total of 1,795 birds. Highlights of the week included French Night, a Chinese Takeaway and the Sunday carvery (plus some nice birds). Those sleeping under the stars (well, in tents anyway) included Dawn, Peter, Dave, Stuart, Ewan Kate and Adam. Mick, our glorious leader came out every day, and most members of the group had the opportunity to do some ringing. Nets were concentrated in Blowers Bay, access via the railtrack, plus occasional nets at point when required. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtinqqB98ek/YUDLufhF47I/AAAAAAAAArY/Cx9BGWa50lYk1ORS4nwWOUUUOUvWE2DrACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210826_180716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtinqqB98ek/YUDLufhF47I/AAAAAAAAArY/Cx9BGWa50lYk1ORS4nwWOUUUOUvWE2DrACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210826_180716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>French Night (port and fromage courtesy of Chris Hubbard)</b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Full Tally of Birds</b></p><table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="width: 558px;">
<colgroup><col width="207"></col>
<col width="41"></col>
<col width="231"></col>
<col width="37"></col>
</colgroup><tbody><tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: 1px solid #000000; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0.1cm;" width="207">
<p>Whitethroat</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: 1px solid #000000; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0.1cm;" width="41">
<p>494
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: 1px solid #000000; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0.1cm;" width="231">
<p> Blackbird</p>
</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.1cm;" width="37">
<p>6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Blackcap</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>338</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Goldcrest</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>6</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Willow Warbler</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>282</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Dunnock</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Sedge Warbler
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>218
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Reed Bunting</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Lesser Whitethroat</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>54
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Treecreeper
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Chiffchaff</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>42</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Linnet</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>4</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Garden Warbler</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>33</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Chaffinch</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Robin</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>32
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Great Tit</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Blue Tit</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>30</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Spotted Flycatcher</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Redstart</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>21</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Stock Dove</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>3</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Swallow</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>21</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Whinchat</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>2</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Wren</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>17
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Bullfinch</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Grasshopper Warbler</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>16
</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Great Spotted Woodpecker</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Long Tailed Tit</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>11</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Kingfisher</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="207">
<p>Tree Sparrow</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="41">
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="231">
<p> Wryneck</p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.1cm; padding-left: 0.1cm; padding-right: 0.1cm; padding-top: 0cm;" width="37">
<p>1</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A fabulous collection of birds, and a quite splendid time was had by all. To finish the blog, here are a few pictures of some of the more unusual birds:</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbsAyKk5kIk/YUDRrRFFf1I/AAAAAAAAArg/vBNHcVwARhkCCnrm48vN3YY_V0lgDna-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/IMG-20210824-WA0001%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbsAyKk5kIk/YUDRrRFFf1I/AAAAAAAAArg/vBNHcVwARhkCCnrm48vN3YY_V0lgDna-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-20210824-WA0001%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>A perennial favourite: a spanking male redstart</b></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vfy19jmx4r8/YUDS-U41R_I/AAAAAAAAAro/DlRtkHSeV549Savw-mJyTjsTwAwMdDl7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG-20210825-WA0000%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1534" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vfy19jmx4r8/YUDS-U41R_I/AAAAAAAAAro/DlRtkHSeV549Savw-mJyTjsTwAwMdDl7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-20210825-WA0000%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>One of our two Whinchat</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06pZ8Nq42ac/YUDTUbqOzQI/AAAAAAAAArw/oNnmnfoS99wtI8zknRuB17KmXoisRipvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/IMG-20210828-WA0007%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06pZ8Nq42ac/YUDTUbqOzQI/AAAAAAAAArw/oNnmnfoS99wtI8zknRuB17KmXoisRipvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-20210828-WA0007%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wryneck- always lovely</b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Back to normal weekend ringing, but congratulations to Adam, our esteemed secretary who has taken retirement, and so we expect to see his craggy features with the elderly midweek ringing gentlemen. Congratulations also to our new trainee Ewan too, who although new to the world of ringing was there for every day of the festival!</p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-53424304746605310352021-07-13T11:32:00.000+01:002021-07-13T11:32:06.365+01:00Mid Year Round Up<p>Time rushes on. We are now in mid July and despite some very mixed weather, ringing is starting to get busy. So far, we have ringed 38 species, with just over 1,000 new birds and over 500 recaptures. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36U5IUXmSEQ/YO1ofaYQ1cI/AAAAAAAAApc/rkpZZ77sDtECEGPmWr-ARh_whzT1iSkGACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/SRG1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36U5IUXmSEQ/YO1ofaYQ1cI/AAAAAAAAApc/rkpZZ77sDtECEGPmWr-ARh_whzT1iSkGACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SRG1e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The mighty SRG at work: Dave, Ewan, Dawn and Adam</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOSJHQdRjos/YO1o1INkBZI/AAAAAAAAApk/dkC2bViz5PAjWhW1DmMHPaaUNuPCLiU_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/SRG2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOSJHQdRjos/YO1o1INkBZI/AAAAAAAAApk/dkC2bViz5PAjWhW1DmMHPaaUNuPCLiU_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/SRG2e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More of the team; Mick and Lucy taking a managerial role in proceedings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On our last session (10/07/21), we ringed a total of 108 new birds plus 58 retraps. A little later than usual, we are starting to ring this year's juvenile birds, including Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Grey wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting, plus a selection of warblers, including our first Cetti's. We are still waiting for our first juvenile Grasshopper warbler, fingers crossed!</div><p></p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772841447348449449.post-56310711284430884692021-04-11T18:56:00.003+01:002021-04-12T11:36:37.547+01:00Back to Business<p>The BTO has confirmed that we can go ringing again, so not ones to let the grass grow under our feet, the SRG has already trundled forth thrice. Numbers have been quite good for the time of year, although unsurprisingly quite a lot of our birds have been re-traps of our resident species- we seem to have been specialising in Dunnocks and Blue Tits.</p><p>However, some of our migrants have returned, and we have been ringing good numbers of Chiffchaff, a couple of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers and a solitary Common Whitethroat. Two SRG records have been broken already for 2021! Firstly PMN trapped and ringed two Stonechats at the dam in February, which is an annual record for Stanford:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zouOz_bs4f8/YHM0vCHdxNI/AAAAAAAAAnE/I32GP6MwK-YYsjrFcUGJ8MW2UcsLyEvBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stonechat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zouOz_bs4f8/YHM0vCHdxNI/AAAAAAAAAnE/I32GP6MwK-YYsjrFcUGJ8MW2UcsLyEvBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Stonechat.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Secondly, on Saturday 10 April Dave extracted a lovely male Redstart from Safari, which is the earliest record for the site, two birds having been ringed historically on the 16th, in 1977 and 2002. Otherwise, these are almost exclusively an autumn species for us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgcZlUGMVVM/YHM2hM_YsSI/AAAAAAAAAnM/YYRjJGML_1YV5M6Kb5ZfxTFZYDDYBfBnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1076/Redstart%2BApr.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="845" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgcZlUGMVVM/YHM2hM_YsSI/AAAAAAAAAnM/YYRjJGML_1YV5M6Kb5ZfxTFZYDDYBfBnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Redstart%2BApr.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">A most beautiful 5 male redstart! Excellent start to the year.</p><p style="text-align: center;">PS Our Bearded Tits have sadly moved on- no breeding records for this year.</p>Peter Nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457880070143001967noreply@blogger.com0