Post BBQ blogging

Completely exhausted after a day out ringing on the Lulworth army ranges but what better way to perk yourself up than a few pints of cider (good stuff not that canned rubbish with the bow and arrow on it) and a BBQ in the garden. So I’m now stuffed and slightly drunk but that won’t stop me blogging! Today’s visit to the ranges was mainly to catch up with more Dartford Warblers to continue our RAS study but we also bagged a new species for me!  A Stonechat!

Obviously not the first I’ve ever seen but the first I have ringed. It was a 3J (a recently fledged bird) and was one of several out and about exploring their new and exciting world, well I guess its all very exciting for them with it being new and all... Also, found a Pied Wagtail nest with 5 eggs, plus watched a few pairs of Woodlark collecting food which is a sure sign they have chicks and the first tit pulli got ringed. The first of many given the good uptake of the nest boxes this year.

A visit to the ranges last night got a few more Dartfords colour ringed and we also got our first Nightjar of the season. Fingers crossed for the some decent weather over the next couple of weeks to allow for a bit more Nightjaring.

You'll really like this one.

I’ve let a few days go by without blogging for which I am sincerely sorry.  To make up for this here’s the premier of a sequel to the farting teal video posted a month or two ago. If you have no or only a slight sense of humour it’s probably not worth watching…

Purple Patch

Clouds hill continued to produce the goods yesterday morning when a Hoopoe appeared as I got to the site. It was still dark and if it hadn’t have flown I wouldn’t have been able to see what it was! Got a record shot but had to use the flash and manual focus.

Thankfully later I managed another shot which at least allows you to appreciate how great Hoopoes are!

Whilst ringing another rarity popped up, this time a Serin. To be honest I can’t say I saw it as such (well, a black dot) but heard it calling as I went over.  A Serin was also reported from Abbotsbury beach but not sure if that was before or after my encounter. The ringing wasn’t especially busy but Whitethroats and Blackcaps kept me busy for an hour or two at first light but it quickly quietened down.

This morning’s efforts were put on hold for a few hours because of the rain but it proved rather quiet with very few grounded migrants about. Hirundines were still on the move in decent number with most sticking around and feeding along the fleet.  A few Spotted Flycatchers provided a bit of quality as did a Cuckoo which was singing first thing. The highlight in the nets was this Garden Warbler which is my first (and well overdue!) of the spring.

Got Wood??

A bit of a personal question but I almost did (notice I said almost!!!) when I saw this little beauty in the net yesterday morning.

This Wood Warbler was a new species for me at Clouds hill and the first I’ve ringed. This species is one that is quite common back in Wales (if you know where to look) and is often found in similar habitat to this species.

A Redstart which I also trapped and ringed yesterday.  As you’ve probably guessed, it was a good day yesterday though would have been ten times better if I managed to get up earlier. I didn’t start ringing until 10am which was a result of a crap night’s sleep, rubbish forecast and switching my alarm off. The nets came back down at about 11:30 after the sun came out but 25 new birds and a few retraps was a good result for just short session.  As well as the birds caught there were plenty of other migrants about including a male Whinchat, a few more Redstarts, a single Spotted Flycatcher and a flyby Short-eared Owl.

Can’t resist posting another pic of the Wood Warbler. Ain’t he a beauty!

One owl, get out of here. Two owls, I'm there!

This afternoon between showers Steve and I headed out onto the army ranges to hopefully ring a few owls. Whilst checking nest boxes yesterday I tapped a tawny owl box and a similar sounding reply was heard from within the box. It was of course a tawny owl bill snapping and it sounded like it came from an owlet. However, without a ladder and the right ring size there wasn’t a lot we could do! Access isn’t always easy to the ranges so an opportunity this evening couldn’t be missed! As you can see we came up trumps!

Only one in the box, presumably it’s eaten all its siblings but mummy owl was also in the box so she also had the honour of being ringed as well.

Both settled nicely back in their box to continue their kip. Though mum looked half as well through the whole thing but that’s quite normal for owls in the hand. Believe me, given half a chance she’s sink a talon into your hand! Oh and well done to everyone who noticed the Reeves and Mortimer quote in the title. If you’ve got nothing better to do this evening youtube it!

What a lovely pair...

The only word to describe this morning’s ringing session is probably dire! Light overnight winds with heavy rain just prior to dawn made me optimistic of a few birds being about but this wasn’t the case. Saw a total of 4 Willow Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff which were the only migrants to be seen at Clouds hill. Only one Willow Warbler made it into the net and another went in one side of the net and quickly came out the other! I’ve seen this neat little trick before and always leaves me wondering how they fit through the mesh!

The morning was rescued by two rather lovely Bullfinch. Clearly a pair as both were side by side in the net. They got ‘blinged up’, measured, weight taken and then released together to get on their merry way and make lots more lovely Bullfinches. The female had the start of a brood patch which is a sure sign that they’ll be breeding soon. Took this picture just before letting them both go together.

Just about ticking over

This morning’s weather didn’t really look like it was going to down lots of migrants and this was proved by about 9am when the sun broke through as there was hardly anything calling or flitting around. I could only have half the nets up due to the strong westerly wind which meant a small catch of just half a dozen Willow Warblers and a Blackcap as well as a few resident species. The size of the catch also reflected the lack of movement. Also caught a Greenfinch which was ringed but not with one of my rings. Need to check with a few other local ringers before getting excited about my first Greenfinch control!

Quality was provided this morning by a Grasshopper Warbler singing for the first hour or so of light and a Pied Flycatcher which showed up just before I left. Both birds failed to find a net but nice to see/hear none the less. A Sedge Warbler was also singing when I arrived but it soon stopped, presumably it was heading for the nearest reed bed. Overhead passage was very slow with just the smallest trickle of Swallows although 5 Whimbrel went through which were my first this spring at the site.  Things will pick up again soon!