Good Week

I started ringing Linnets last Wednesday today another 19 were caught. Bringing the total so far to 110

Also while waiting for Linnets to land on seed where the woosh net is i put up a 60ft net for Meadow pipits as i had seen a bit of movement . 

1 Meadow Pipit caught 

25 Swallows

2 Sandmartin 

and 2 House Martins,  only ever ringed 3 of these great little bird, the legs are amazing with feather right down to the toes.

I went back this evening

1 swallow

19 Meadow Pipits ringed

Also this week 

another 12 new Siskin in my garden bringing the total to 62 Siskins ringed so far

Today

 Woosh net battery has been charged up and another 12 Linnets ringed this morning bringing the total to 61 so far also 2 more Willow Warblers and another few Blue Tits/ Gt Tits ringed .

12 more Swallows ringed as well

Back in Yorkshire

Andy tells me they have now ringed  over 800 Hirundines in the last 4 weeks mainly Swallows . Fantastic well done to all concerned,

Busy few days

At last the wind stopped, the last few weeks i have been putting nyger down at a site for Linnets and maybe in months to come Twite. Yesterday afternoon i noticed Linnets coming into seed. 

So i set up the small woosh net and had ringed 38 in 2 hours. Also 2 Stonechat ringed as well.

This morning i met Kev and Son and caught another 12,  If you follow this blog you will know i am testing out a wireless trigger that Zenedek Moudry is making.  I have wooshed over 50 Gulls in the garden with it 

and it was working great yesterday, today after 3 fires a Wheatear wondered into the woosh area so i pressed the remote and nothing. Looks like it needs charging up, so back to the old way on went the string and we sat and waited. No more landed so we packed up.

Off we set for Port Moar with Rock Pipits in mind 

1 Ringed

Kev then said lets go to a private garden site they have had permission to ring at

2 Hours later 71 birds ringed mainly Blue Tits Gt Tits with Coal Tits, Greenfinch 1retrap Blackcap

and a Siskin

Great day out 

Manx ringing groups youngest member

Soon as i got in woosh battery went on charge

Wet and windy

Been a wet and windy week so only a bit of ringing done.  Another 12 Sandmartins ringed but wind got up so packed up. Also another Rock pipit down at Port Moar. The 20ft Net in the garden has been quite busy off and on with a few more Siskins. 

Good to see a few juvenile birds getting re caught and to see the change in plumage as they lose there juvenile feathers and start getting that lovely green colour on there backs and chests also the males now starting to show the black feathers on the head and bib 

Two more Common Sandpipers {in back garden} on beach today 

also Grey Heron

Sandwich Terns and Gannets

Weekend

Last couple of days had guests visiting but managed to get out for a few hours on friday down at Port Moar
9 more Rock pipits ringed        

Port Moar

Also in the garden 15 more birds ringed
6 Siskin
3 Gt Tits 1 Retrap
1 Blue Tit
1 Robin
1 Goldfinch
1 Chaffinch
1 Greenfinch
1 House Sparrow

This morning down at the site Mark was ringing at
27 birds ringed

10 Gt Tit
5 Blue Tits
4 Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
1Blackcap
1 Wren
Nothing happening in Reed Bed so put Swallow call on
5 Swallows  ringed as well.

Willow Warbler

Fault Bars in Willow Warbler Tale 

On Saturday afternoon got the spring trap out for gulls and caught 1 Herring Gull
which got the darvic placed on the left leg as well    T3XC.

Quality

Quality not quantity thats what i am always telling my wife. And last night it was Quality.

Met Kev at 11:00 and set two nets ups. 

1 Manx Shearwater

1 Storm Petrel

Great night, the stars were amazing with up to 10 Shooting stars, maybe the lack of cloud cover

was why we didnt catch much more . 

The last 3 nights have been great an early night tonight me thinks, thanks again to Kev.

Another night out

Another enjoyable couple of hours out with Kev again last night 

3 Dunlin

2 Ringed Plover 

1 Redshank ringed 

also a dead Oystercatcher found on the shore which i am sure i ringed 03/07/2010

as a chick at this site :-(

Evening and late night razzle-dazzle

An evening spent up at the Point of Ayre ringing more Sandmartins. 48 Birds in total.

42 new Sandmartin 3 retraps and the controlled bird again from 2 weeks ago plus 2 new Swallows.

I had arranged to meet Kev at Smeale for a lesson in Dazzling birds.

A fantastic night watching Kev using this technique to catch and ring birds.

5X Oystercatcher

5x Dunlin

3x Ringed Plover 

This young Ringed Plover is the same bird Andy rang as a chick on the 21 July 

Nice to know it fledged
Thanks to Kev for all his help 

Last few days

I was out with Kev over the last few days, a night trying for Stormie's which started off with high hopes as the wind had dropped. 2 were caught a new bird and a control. The wind got up again within an hour of starting so we called it a night.

Also a great morning down a Peel and then on to Niarbyl. We originally went to try and ring some more Black Guillemots  and Herring Gulls. The Guillemots had left the harbour wall and were no where to be seen. So we set up for Herring Gull about 200 birds circling the spring traps but none would come down, there getting wise to us. So as i had my small spring traps with me and some meal worm we set up for Rock Pipit.  40 minutes later we had ringed 7. 

Kev said we should try down at Niarbyl  so off we shot. 11 more Rock Pipits ringed and a good opportunity to show and  talk about why ring birds.

All the Rock Pipits we have ringed have been this years young except 2. At Peel we caught an adult in full moult which is always good to compare with the juvenile plumage. And another Adult was caught at Port Moar last week.

This morning i spent a pleasant hour down at Port Moar with another 7 Rock Pipits ringed all juvenile birds

Looks like the Rock Pipit has had a good breeding season 

Check out Kev's blog for info on a colour ringed Sanderling that was seen on the island 

very interesting.

Tuesday

I was out with Mark this morning another new Sedge Warbler ringed plus a Juv Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch and a Blackcap.

Reed Warbler

Back to make more cups of tea for the workmen

then down to Port Moar For a spot of Rock Pipiting

4 Rock Pipits caught in spring traps this aft.

Sunday and a new visitor to the garden

I was out with Mark this morning from 0800. Another 2 Sedge Warblers ringed that brings his total to 30 for the week. Also Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Wren and a retrap Male Blackbird which was ringed in 2006 at this site.

Net rides 

This afternoon was spent in the garden with a spot of ringing and a few beers.

Nice to see a Treecreeper in the net{ another first for the garden} and hear Sandwich Terns go past the end of the garden at the same time. 

2 more Siskins ringed

2x Blue Tits

1 Robin

1 Greenfinch