Sand Martin session 5

Just the one ringing session over the past week. A little breezy to start, but it soon calmed down to give better conditions. Once again, species other than Sand Martin made for a large proportion of our ringing session. It’s looking like we’ve either missed the Sand Martins or that they’re just not around in the numbers they were last year. Greenfinch was a bonus ringing tick for Alun – It’s been a while since we’ve caught one!

60 New birds and (2) retraps – Sand Martin 15, Swallow 14, Sedge Warbler 10, Reed Bunting 7(1), Pied Wagtail 5, Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 2(1), Greenfinch 1, Goldfinch 1, Chiffchaff 1.

Monthly Totals

A few nets were opened this morning. But, with only three birds caught rain was on the horizon so it was back home to update IPMR and our website - Where monthly totals for 2011 have been added.

http://www.bishopmonktonbirders.co.uk

2 New birds and (1) retrap - Dunnock 1(1), Whitethroat 1.

A fine start

The forecast blue sky didn’t materialise. However, the overcast conditions made for perfect ringing until torrential rain brought proceedings to an end a little earlier than we would have liked. Plenty of 3Js around today and young David managed two ringing ticks – Redstart and Jackdaw.

3J Redstart

58 New birds and (10) retraps – Whitethroat 8(1), Sedge Warbler 8, Willow Warbler 5(2), Blackbird 5, Chiffchaff 4(1), Bullfinch 4, Robin 4, Blackcap 3(1), Grasshopper Warbler 2(2), Wren 2(1), Dunnock 2(1), Marsh Tit 2, Yellowhammer 2, Chaffinch 1(1), Jackdaw 1, Great Tit 1, Redstart 1, Reed Bunting 1, Blue Tit 1.

Dave gets a ringing tick (a rare thing these days)

Convinced the Green Sandpiper would be back Dave started a long night of net checking. By dawn he only had a single Swallow to show for his efforts so he called it a night and went to take the net down. At which point the bird flushed and Dave got a ringing tick on his own patch.

On joining Dave for our planned mornings ringing session we then headed down to our main site to prepare some net lanes for the autumn ringing season.

11 New birds and (3) retraps – Sedge Warbler 4, Whitethroat 3, Willow Warbler 1, Jay 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Swallow 1, Grasshopper Warbler (1), Reed Bunting (1), Reed Warbler (1).

Sand Martin session 2

Conditions were much better but it was looking like another slow evening. A flypast from a Sparrowhawk didn’t help so a trip to the chip to the chip shop in Boroughbridge ensued. Two Green Sandpiper flew in at about 20:00 to feed on the mud that shows in dry conditions, so another net was hastily put up to cover this. It remained quiet until about 21:45 when the Sand Martins swarmed and hit the net as they came into roost. There were a few retraps from last year and 2 controls - I suspect these controls are from the East Dales Ringing Group who occasionally ring Sand Martins in the area too.

Unlike the Pipistrelle bats the Green Sandpiper bounced the new net as we returned. It was first time I’d seen a bat in the net and now there were five!

152 New birds, (7) retraps and [2] controls – Sand Martin 131 (5) [2], Reed Bunting 12 (1), Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 2, Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 1, Swallow 1, Blackbird 1.