Some days you just get lucky

A bit windy here this weekend so I thought it about time I updated you on our luck last Sunday. Once again, a small group of us were out targeting the corn feeders at Bishop Monkton. It was much warmer this weekend so four nets were opened. Up until 10:30 it was an average morning.

Green Woodpecker

Our 30 minutes of luck then started. We were pleased with an unexpected Kingfisher on our planned net round (ringing tick for Anita). I then set out to try and tape lure a Green Woodpecker into the far net. But, flushed it in on the way there (ringing tick for me). Whilst ringing these we got great views of a fox that walked out into the open right in front of the shed. And then, while still ringing the last net round, Dave somehow manages to spot a female Sparrowhawk heading in the direction of our feeder nets – He runs off and returns with said Sparrowhawk (ringing tick for Natasha).

Anita with her first Kingfisher

Natasha with her first Sparrowhawk

42 New birds and (20) retraps – Yellowhammer 16(2), Reed Bunting 9(8), Dunnock (7) Chaffinch 5, Blackbird 4, Great Tit 1(2), Tree Sparrow 1, Wren 1, Fieldfare 1, Songthrush 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Kingfisher 1, Sparrowhawk 1,Blue Tit (1).

A quick update

Busy at present so just a quick update on today’s ringing that included a cracking male Sparrowhawk.

147 New birds and (6) retraps – Sparrowhawk 1, Blackbird 3 (1), Wren
5, Goldcrest 7, Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Blackcap 3 (1), Bullfinch
4, Reed Bunting 3, Chaffinch 2 Dunnock 5, Goldfinch 104 (2), Lesser
Redpoll 3, Tree Sparrow 2 Robin 1 (2), Song Thrush 1, Redwing 1.

The best of the retraps were a Blackbird first ringed on 25/10/2007 and a Robin first ringed on 07/11/2006.

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)