Hawk aye

Yet another early start and a good morning’s ringing with 120 birds and 19 species ringed. DZ let slip a retrap Tree Sparrow so was on breakfast duties once again. However, this bird’s bid for freedom may have attracted in one of our next birds – a Sparrowhawk. This was DZ’s first time of holding a bird of prey and as he pulled it out the bag it would be fair to say it had as good a hold on him as he had on it. Also of interest was a wren with white primaries.

120 Birds ringed in total. Sparrowhawk (1), Wren (3), Dunnock (1), Robin (3), Blackbird (8), Song Thrush (10), Reed Warbler (1), Blackcap (20), Chiffchaff (4), Goldcrest (1), Blue Tit (1), Great Tit (1), Treecreeper (1), Tree Sparrow (1), Chaffinch (6), Greenfinch (1), Goldfinch (47), Linnet (3) Reed Bunting (7).

Sparrowhawk ringed on 26 September 2009 (A Smith)

Wren ringed on 26 September 2009 (A Smith)

Phew, what a scorcher

As we opened the nets this morning it was quieter than yesterday so Dave predicted there would be fewer birds. He was right – there were seven fewer. We ringed twenty two species of which four were new for me – Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll, Tree Sparrow and Greenfinch. A little surprisingly, for this time of year, we ringed five Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler; September’s turning out to be a real cracker.

Sunrise at our site (A Smith)

166 Birds ringed in total. Meadow Pipit (18), Wren (3), Dunnock (2), Robin (9), Blackbird (6), Song Thrush (7), Sedge Warbler (5), Reed Warbler (1), Whitethroat (1), Garden Warbler (1), Blackcap (38), Chiffchaff (15), Goldcrest (1), Long-tailed Tit (1), Coal Tit (1), Great Tit (1), Tree Sparrow (1), Chaffinch (7), Greenfinch (9), Goldfinch (30), Lesser Redpoll (2), Reed Bunting (7).

Lesser Redpoll ringed on 20 September 2009 (A Smith)

In an attempt to send more birds our way we deployed our combine into the adjacent bean field (A Smith)

2000 Calories per serving

It’s been a busy morning with Meadow Pipits, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldfinches all turning up in abundance. Breakfast was a little later than usual and the fry-up was shunned by DW who announced the start of his diet; choosing instead to go with several slices of banana and walnut cake - 2 of your 5 a day! There was plenty of bacon, sausages and black pudding for the rest of us so competitive butty making ensued.

Yum Yum (D Watkins)

In fumbling a couple of un-ringed birds DZ volunteered to put his new found cooking skills in to practice for the foreseeable future.

173 Birds ringed in total. Meadow Pipit (15), Wren (2), Dunnock (1), Robin (8), Blackbird (7), Song Thrush (4), Sedge Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (1), Garden Warbler (2), Blackcap (65), Chiffchaff (15), Blue Tit (2), Treecreeper (1), Chaffinch (4), Goldfinch (43), Reed Bunting (2).

Quiet around here

A stiffer breeze than forecast and bright blue skies made for poor ringing conditions with only 30 birds ringed this morning. By 8:00 we’d polished off the bacon butties and by 9:00 we’d cut a new net lane where we plan to catch migrating thrushes in the coming weeks.

30 Birds ringed in total. Wren (1), Robin (3), Blackbird (1), Song Thrush (5), Blackcap (11), Chiffchaff (3), Willow Warbler (1), Chaffinch (1), Goldfinch (4).

Fly on the wall

Another good ringing session today with our first Spotted Flycatcher of the year.

80 Birds ringed in total. Wren (1), Dunnock (1), Robin (1), Blackbird (3), Sedge Warbler (1), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (38), Chiffchaff (8), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Great Tit (1), Chaffinch (3), Greenfinch (2), Goldfinch (17), Reed Bunting (1).

On your way now

For the third day in succession we were blessed with brilliant ringing conditions. Once again Blackcaps were the theme of the morning and with three of us ringing today they were a little less tedious. Incidentally, we noticed that male Blackcaps made up most of the first net round and females evidently like that extra half-hour in bed as they made up most of the second. We also ringed what must by now be our last Willow Warbler of the season.

106 Birds ringed in total and 1 control Sedge Warbler. Wren (4), Dunnock (3), Robin (4), Blackbird (1), Song Thrush (4), Long-tailed Tit (6), Treecreeper (1), Sedge Warbler (1), Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (60), Garden Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (4), Willow Warbler (1), Goldfinch (6), Chaffinch (3), Reed Bunting (6).

In at the deep end

It's been another busy day ringing with 60+ birds in the first net round alone. Once again Blackcaps were the order of the day. Highlights today were a Kingfisher and Dave falling off Pomroy's bridge into Pomroy's wet bottom.

125 Birds ringed in total. Kingfisher (1), Meadow Pipit (3), Wren (4), Dunnock (8), Robin (2), Blackbird (3), Song Thrush (2), Great Tit (4), Blue Tit (2), Sedge Warbler (3), Reed Warbler (1), Lesser Whitethroat (3), Whitethroat (3), Blackcap (63), Chiffchaff (12), Goldfinch (7), Chaffinch (3), Reed Bunting (1).

Kingfisher ringed on 10 September 2009 (A Smith)

Brimstone Butterfly (A Smith)

Twit Twoo

Sometimes it pays to get up early and as Dave opened the nets this morning our first bird flew in right behind him - It was a Tawny Owl. After this rare treat, it was mainly Blackcaps for the next few hours and by the time I left for work at 9:00 we'd already ringed 60 birds.

76 Birds ringed in total. Tawny Owl (1), Meadow Pipit (2), Wren (1), Robin (2), Blackbird (3), Song Thrush (6), Great Tit (3), Blue Tit (2), Sedge Warbler (2), Blackcap (22), Chiffchaff (12),
Goldfinch (11), Chaffinch (2), Bullfinch (3), Reed Bunting (4).

Dave admires the Tawny Owl (A Smith)

Tawny Owl ringed on 9 September 2009 (A Smith)

Water rails

This autumn we hope to to do some ringing of Water Rails ..this scarce and secretive marsh bird occurs each year at Bishop Monkton Ings as well as several other sites locally. It oftens gives itself away with it's harsh squealing call... but at times can easily go unoticed

Tower Wanted

We're looking for a 15ft high scaffolding tower to be erected as an observation tower. If you know of an unwanted one let us know!

Great time of year ...

Great time of year, from now until early Nov, with some easterlies anything could turn up .... what will we find in those nets? Hope to join you on Friday ...David

Bishop Monkton Birders start blogging

To add to our website and twitters, through this blog we will be keeping a diary of our bird ringing activities. With a good forecast for the week ahead we hope to be out ringing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Lesser Whitethroat ringed on 23 August 2009 (D Watkins)