Summer sunshine

The weather has been good to us; just one morning when we had a heavy shower that brought 11mm in one hour before breakfast. Our garden thermometer has measured a max of 23C to 29C in the shade before 2pm every day since last time.

Following on from the sad tale of the other two Herring Gull chicks, I can report that the third one managed to fledge successfully last week - not before I was able to ring it when it was in the throws of mastering flight. They normally spend two/three days practising when it is possible to throw a towel over them and pick them up.

42 day old Herring Gull chick

The garden nets have been moved around a couple of times, with one always in the bottom of the orchard. The sun has meant an early start and an equally early finish by ringers' standards. With more racks cut out down the meadows by yours truly between garden chores (sweaty work), we were able to give that a couple of goes, too. The net runs have never exceeded 180' at either site so far, giving a max. of four nets operated.

A problem at this time of year, especially if ringing very early or very late in the day, is the possibility of catching, inadvertently, a bat. I did just that and, after disentangling it from the net, I left it to come to its senses on the potting shed door.

Small bat (Pipistrelle?)

I was lucky enough to re-catch the juvenile woodpecker in the garden again. As you can see from the photograph below, "it" (still unable to sex the bird) had just begun its post-juvenile moult. The photo shows the contrast between a new, red, adult under-tail covert and the pink juvenile ones.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

 "Fairmead" - 113 birds of 17 species, 72 new, 41 retraps (+10 re-handlings): the vast majority were young birds. I haven't caught any Jackdaws this year (yet), but there were >105 sitting on the roof the other night.

Herring Gull - 1, 41 day old chick about to fledge (see above)

Gt. Spotted Woodpecker - (1), the previous juvenile, just starting its first partial moult

Magpie - 1, first juv we've ever caught here

Blue Tit - 9 (4), juvs plus one r/t 2CY moulting female, r/t adult male in heavy moult

Great Tit - 5 (2), juvs

Long-tailed Tit - 1 (5), juvs & 1 r/t adult female

Wren - 2 (1), juvs, probably males (on size)

Blackbird - 10 (1), 8 male & 2 female juvs plus a new 3CY+ male

Robin - 3 (4), 4 juvs, 2 r/t females, 1 r/t male

Dunnock - 3 (3), 2 r/t females, 1 r/t male

House Sparrow - 10 (9), 6 males (1 new), 4 females, the rest = juvs

Pied Wagtail - (3), adults

Chaffinch - 1, a lone 3CY+ male

Bullfinch - 6 (2), 2 new females, 2 new males, 2 old males, 2 juvs

Greenfinch - 4, all males, 1 male 2CY

Goldfinch - 7 (3), 1 r/t male, 1 new male, the rest were unsexed juvs

Siskin - (2), a possible pair

Meanwhile, down the road, our species make-up is profoundly different at this time of year. I got the most enjoyment from re-catching the adult Dipper (below) that was ringed as an adult in May last year. This time it was actively moulting, as can be seen if you study the picture closely. Visible are the contrast between old and new primaries, a row of, as yet, unmoulted median coverts and some new, black feathers appearing in the crown. 

3CY+ Dipper in active moult (mid July)

"Egrove" - 50 birds of 14 species, 42 of which were new birds; all juveniles except where indicated.

Kingfisher - (2),

Blue Tit - 1,

Long-tailed Tit - 4 (1), r/t adult female

Chiffchaff - 4,

Blackcap - 18,

Adult female Blackcap in active moult

Garden Warbler - 1, a sign that they breed 'on site'

Garden Warbler in wholly juvenile plumage
(note the pale grey collar present in the species)

C. Whitethroat - 1, a 3CY+ female with a good brood patch

Wren - 3 (1), inc. a 2CY r/t male

Dipper 1 (1), a 'this year's' young bird and territorial male in full moult (above)

Blackbird - 2 (1), a new 3CY+ female

Song Thrush - 1, the first for the year

Robin - 2, 

Dunnock - 3 (1), only 1 juv, the rest adult males with pronounced cloacal protuberances

Goldfinch - 1 (1), the r/t was an adult male

I don't split the ages of adult Goldfinches into 2CY and 3CY+ at this time of year (May - August) as differentiation in feather age is nigh on impossible. All adults revert to Euring age class 4 anyway after the moult is complete since they all have new flight feathers.

Well, that's that. The contractors are coming in to mow the rest of the hay crop this coming week which should enable us to visit more of this longitudinal site. I will report back when we have some more news to share with you.