Saturday Awayday

I travelled up to Buckinghamshire again for a session in the New Wood. As well as Dave S, I was joined by trainee Andrew W, who normally rings with Mick A'C in the wood to the east. The two woods are very similar but that is not surprising as ours was modelled on the semi-ancient one next door. The main difference, apart from age, is that more Hawthorn (of both types, English and Midland) has been incorporated into the New Wood.

The weather was not over conducive for a large catch since the wind was at the top end of acceptable and the cloud cover was 'solid', with not the slightest hit of some sun. A little of the latter might have helped "excite" the birds. It was raining when we got up - not what the Met. Office ordered! The catch was mostly what one would have expected at an 'in-between time', with the summer birds all gone and the winter birds not arrived here yet.

During the morning, we managed to catch and ring 29 new birds and recapture a further 6.

The others found the young male Goldcrest exciting to handle which took the shine off the female caught soon after.


Me, I liked the young, male Chiff that was still undergoing a heavy PJ moult at so late a date.


Four Bullfinches was as good as this time last year but we wait to see if we will be able to ring 14 in November as we did last year.

Blue Tit 7 (2)
Great Tit 3 (2)
Long-tailed Tit 11 (2)
Goldcrest 2
Chifchaff 1
Wren 1
Bullfinch 4

Hopefully, we shall find a window of opportunity during the first half of November for a final visit of the year. With the weather and rest days against us, we (EN & DS) have rung up a total of just 70 new birds ringed (and 7 re-traps) of 18 spp. against last year's totals of 231 new plus 60 r/t of 28 spp. In November 2010, a single visit brought in 88 birds. Fingers crossed!

Bucking the trend!

Spent Friday and Saturday in the Aylesbury Vale (Buckinghamshire). Friday afternoon was all about Barn Owl boxes, while Saturday was mist netting the 'new wood'.

We visited a farmer whose land is down to grass at Long Crendon where we knew there would be chicks of a ringeable age. As we approached the box, we could see two chicks looking out with the parent bird looking over their shoulders. As the ladder went up, she took flight and left the field, crossed a neighbour's arable field and settled in a shelter belt where she could watch us. There were 6 chicks in this box, all were ringed.


Next we looked at another box where a lone bird had been seen roosting. This turned out to have 2 Stock Dove chicks in residence. Maybe the owl that had been seen was the male and father of the chicks we had just done.

Off to Waddesdon for a quick check on another box that had eggs the last time it was checked. Seven more chicks, 5 of which were ringed, the other two were 'runts', the youngest being quite small and likely to be "a picnic" for one of its older siblings.


Then to check on a box that was robbed of its eggs six weeks ago by some workmen on a huge building site. To our surprise it contained eight (8) youngsters, three of which were big enough to ring, three more looked healthy and could be ringed in a week or so, and two more that were only a few days old. The male had flown off when we entered but the female sat tight and we were able to ring her, too.

In the evening we went out and set and furled a line of five nets along a north-south ride in the wood some 12 miles away. Before dawn, we had those nets open and set about adding five more in favoured places. Our one disappointment was a "non-stick" adult male Sparrowhawk, but the wind had got up by then and it found its way out easily.


Adult Lesser Whitethroat in fresh plumage (mid-August)

After five hours on site, (the wind got up ahead of some squally weather putting paid to any more catches), we had had 12 species and 48 birds, of which 6 were recaptures.
Dave, trainee Keith and myself rated the LESWHs 'the deal of the day'.

Blue Tit 7
Great Tit 6
Marsh Tit (1)
Long-tailed Tit 6 (3)
Chiffchaff 6
Willow Warbler 4
Blackcap 2
Lesser Whitethroat 4
Wren 1
Dunnock 4
Goldfinch 1
Bullfinch 1 (2)


Post-juvenile male Blackcap (mid-August)

Next to this wood, they run sheep. At present, the closest field had tall grass in it and about forty fat lamb rams. Mid-morning we disturbed a group of birds feeding on something, a carcass perhaps, that we could not see. This group consisted of 2 Red Kites, several Magpies, a couple of Crows, an adult and a juvenile Buzzard and a Raven.

I am hoping to get back to the site in September for the late departing warblers and again in late October for the early winter thrush movement. There shouldn't be any accidents on the M5 by then as the summer visitors - human type - will have also departed, shortening my journey time!

Bucks fizz

Up early this morning to ring at Edgcott. This time we had an electronic key that works! [Last time we tried to enter the farm, (at 5am) the key was duff, and we had to abort]. Hopeful as ever, despite the windy and squally conditions. Had to be somewhere that we could avoid the worst of the weather.

The heavy showers kept off and the wind was not too much of a problem. Having said that, we packed up at the right time - before the showers became more frequent and heavier.

Certain "birds in the net" were obvious for their absence; tits, Blackcap and Bullfinch, for instance.

We only caught three juvenile birds; two juvenile, female Blackbirds, and this wee fella', a Common Whitethroat that must have left the nest a week or so ago.

Two other species were new for us this season, namely Lesser Whitethroat (facing right) and Garden Warbler (facing left).



Going by the eyes and tails, the Lessers were both 2CY males as they had prominent cloacas. The Garden was a female with an immaculate and text book brood patch, that had the edges "stitched".

As we've said before, the wood is normally wet underfoot and is a mere 'stripling' at 15 years of age. As can be seen below, it sits in the flat lands at the head of the River Ray, currently a large area of conservation input stretching down to the outskirts of Oxford.


Todays final tally was 26 new birds in 4 hours and 1 re-trap:
Blue Tit 1 male
Chiffchaff 3 males
Willow Warbler 5 males
Garden Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Whitethroat 5; 3 males + female 'in egg' + juv
Blackbird 5
Robin 1
Dunnock 2 (1)
Chaffinch 1

Dave (him at the wheel of the AVDC vehicle below) ringed the Tawny Owl chicks 3 weeks ago; the other raptors will not be ready for another 3 weeks (approx). Other birds around in the 'drizzle' were - Woodcock, Reed Bunting, Jackdaw (goes with the sheep), Bullfinch, Blackcap, Magpie and Woodpigeon. A small list, but anticipated what with the weather conditions generally (and us not keen on stomping through the whole 30 acres and leaving the nets open). We aiming to go in "mob handed" next time, towards the end of next month. By July, the site will have a new owner but our "rights" are being protected.

Some movement

Firstly it was the wind in the NE that put a stop to a decent catch, then it swung SW and upped a gear. If it hadn't been for the wind, the grey skies with fleeting sunshine and the odd passing shower might have produced something ringable.

The latter half of the week saw me back in Bedford on family business, before moving on to Aylesbury. We had arranged an early spring ringing session in the 15 year-old wood we are looking at. The skies were clear, the sun beamed down, the wind got up and we were dead in the water. All we had for our troubles were 2 male Goldcrests.


It wasn't all bad as we saw a Woodcock fleeing from one net, 3 Jays "laughing up their sleeves/axillaries", a Tawny keeping a box warm, various tits defending clusters of boxes and, up with the Kites, Sky Larks singing their little hearts out in the blue skies, out performing the 'hiss' of a "SqueasyJet". Two early starts and well over 400 miles driven in 36 hours. Almost home, I saw an adult male Hen Harrier flying alongside (not quite) the car as I crossed "the levels". I slept soundly last night.

Back home for the whole of the last day of the week, and with the day starting grey and damp with a promise of a clearance - it was 'nets up' sharpish. Shortly thereafter the sound of a Chiffchaff singing in the early sun along Union Lane at the back of us perked me up. Then, behold, one in the net. This individual's characteristics of long wing, 2=7, black-black legs, full colouration and minimal abrasion puts it within the realms of abietinus. Overall it turned out to be the best day of the week.

Now a few mundane images of mundane birds that turned up this week.




Having had the nets up for a shorter time, the week's total was up slightly on the previous two. 19 birds ringed and 11 species handled as under.
Blue Tit 1
Coal Tit 1 - first since mid-Jan
Long-tailed Tit (1)
Chiffchaff 1 (new)
Blackbird 1 (1)
Robin (2)
House Sparrow 6, after a 6-week gap
Chaffinch 2
Brambling 1 (& a 2nd male avoiding the nets today)
Greenfinch 3
Goldfinch 3
Nine weeks in and I'm almost at the 500 'new birds' mark.

Other signs of spring included several bumblebees, Brimstone butties, primroses and the Camellia in full flower now.



No sign of tadpoles hatching yet; perhaps another week?

While the cat's away ...

While I was driving down to Somerset, two of my 'C' ringers went off to my DEFRA site in Bucks. This is an ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) at the headwaters of the River Ray.

We have been charged with providing a written report of the birdlife of this 30 acre new wet woodland - it's 15 years old - and ringing helps us seek out some of the birds and tells us a bit about their lifestyle.

One useful bit of info. that they found out was a roost of Bullfinch; they caught 10 new and 2 r/t at dusk. Behind there, there was also a roost of thrushes. One 'bogey' bird was caught at long last - a Great Spot. So far, they have taken to avoiding (or clinging on to) the nets.

I have added Ed's view of the weekend ....

Monday, 8 November 2010

A weekend near Aylesbury

One and a half days ringing and 88 birds of 19 species were ringed at Edgcott, near Aylesbury. The site is a 15 year old woodland plantation crisscrossed with rides where nets can easily be erected.

Blackbird  10
Blue Tit  5 (4)
Bullfinch  11 (3)
Chaffinch  2
Dunnock  2 (1)
Goldcrest  1 (4)
Goldfinch  1
Great Spotted Woodpecker  1 [first for site]
Great Tit  2
Greenfinch  1
Jay  1
Long-tailed Tit  6 (13)
Marsh Tit  (1)
Redpoll  3 [new for site]
Redwing  9  [new for site]
Robin  1
Song Thrush  1 [first for site]
Treecreeper  1
Wren  4

My favourites were Redpoll (unexpected) and Jay but I was also pleased with a Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

We also picked up a Goldcrest and Blue Tit that had been ringed elsewhere & not by us - I'd be very interested to find out where in Britain they have come from.



Above: One of three Redpoll.



Above: A Jay - for some reason Blogger has rotated this photo and I can't get it to change. Humph! I'll try again another time.



Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker.

"Acorn Woodland" (visit 4)

I used to have a company called that, but this refers to the young wood in Bucks that we are surveying from time to time. The acorns on the 15 year old oaks are coming along nicely and are tempting a few birds. When we set off we had no idea of the catch we would get today.

"Who are you staring at?"

We put up the first net (1) at the end of the Hawthorn/Blackthorn hedge where it meets the laid hedge. This is on the northernmost east-west ride. It was one of our most sucessful Chiffchaff catching points. It intercepts the birds as they cross over into some Willows. The next net (2) we put up half way up this ride, where a central ride starts; the young oaks here nearly touch across the open space. We managed to put a further four nets up before starting extraction; two (3&4) at the end of the above cross-ride and two (5&6) on the eastern end of the main ride.

On our way back, net 3 was "dripping" with a family party of 16 Long-tailed Bushtits and a other birds. The 'Lotti's' were all re-traps (already ringed by us on a previous visit). Net 2 produced 3 Jays; they were unringed and turned out to be all adult. We assumed (at the time) that they were the local birds.

The first of the adult Jays (wing 188, wt. 172g)

A tape lure was left running at net 2 while we processed this first lot of birds.On our return, there was another Jay in the net (2) and four Goldcrests, lured in as it was their song coming from the speaker. We also extracted Robins, a Wren, a couple of Blackbirds, a group of Bullfinches and assorted tits from the other nets and then two more Goldcrests from net 2 on our way back.

  

Male Goldcrest - except for extreme tail shapes, we age all birds as "2's"

 

We then went out once more and this time we caught a very mixed bag. By now it was natural to see a couple of Jays dangling in the nets. We also picked up our second Marsh Tit of the day, but this one already had a ring on it. It eventually came time to call it a day. Time was pressing on and there were appointments to keep. On out take down round, the main interest was another family party of Bushtits, this one consisting of eight new birds.

This was our biggest catch so far at this site; 12 species, 77 birds of which 21 were ringed on previous visits.

Jay - 9

Goldcrest - 9

Long-tailed Bushtit - 9 (16)

Blue Tit - 10 (2)

Great Tit - 4 (1)

Marsh Tit - 1 (1)

Wren - 1 (1)

Blackbird - 3

Robin - 3

Dunnock - 1

Chaffinch - 2

Bullfinch - 3

All nine Jays were adults. With so many today, and not having caught any of the residents before, we wondered if these birds were "fresh in", possibly from the continent, and were hungry. Hence our phenomenal catch? [2 birds did drop acorns in the nets]. Damage limitation procedures were in place, but neither of us came away unscathed!

Our next visit will comprise an afternoon and a morning session, back to back, at the beginning of next month.

Bucks Barn Owls

A shift across to the neighbouring county. The District Council for Aylesbury run a Barn Owl project. This covers a large area of agricultural land, mainly to the west of the town.

The scheme will monitor up to 150 boxes, many of which have been made for us by the inmates at Springhill Prison. To date, we have 50 boxes "occupied" by pairs. Some are in trees ...

... some are in barns ...

... and some are in disused buildings.
 

Yesterday, we visited five spread out sites. At two sites we were able to ring the young and at a further two sites we had to leave the young as they were far too small and were almost "down-less". What we were able to confirm was that the birds are now caching a lot of mice and voles.

So far this season, the total numbers of birds caught has been seven adults plus one control and 19 young, split into 5 broods of two and 3 broods of three.

 AVDC Conservation Officer Paul's first fondle of a Barn Owl chick.

One place we went to has had Barn Owls nesting there for over 25 years. Below is just one of two large heaps of guano on the floor. The female in this box also 'whit-washed' me on her exit!!

 The delay in breeding this season is likely to be as a result of the weather. Firstly, the cold snap in February probably stopped the birds getting into breeding condition. This they have managed to do as the weather warmed up. However, the dryness of the period from March to June has retarded some of the vegetation growth that the small mamal populations rely on for their breeding. Finally, the rains have come and everything now looks 'fine and dandy' for a later than usual breeding season. Let's hope that we don't get a long period of unsettled, i.e. poor hunting, weather.

As the team has been going round to the various landowners, several other nests have come to our attention en passant. The other nests where we have been able to ring the chicks so far are: - Buzzard 1, Kestrel 4, Stock Dove 3, Collared Dove 1, Little Owl 1, Tawny Owl 4, Green Woodpecker 1, Swallow 5, Robin 2, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Jackdaw 4, House Sparrow 1. We have picked up a new mist-netting site, too.

 

Mixed blessings

My eldest grand-daughter, Erin, turned 6 this week. Being summertime, the request to attend the now obligatory BBQ rendezvous chez No.2 son was forthcoming.

From my side of the marriage there were just three: grandfather (me), grandmother (ex wife Ann) and my partner, Jenny.

Chris and Ann getting away from the throng.

On the other side there was a grand gathering of 7: Ali's mum, dad, brother, sister, brother's expectant wife and two children.

Susan (Ali's sister), Jan (Ali's mum), & Ali taking a breather from "dishing up".

I spent much of the time entertaining the four children in the garden, with football using that huge blue thing above, playing tag, pretend fighting and pulling faces.

Birthday girl, Erin, talking to Jenny.

The next day

Having been summoned to go to Aylesbury, I got on my bike after an early breakfast to join Dave Short and another trainee, Bill, to check out and ring a few Barn Owls and Kestrels in the Aylesbury Vale.

The first three boxes contained Barn Owls: three were ringed in the first, there were two and an egg in the next and the third was deserted (reason unknown). A couple of Little Owl boxes were also checked, one empty, the other with a bird sitting. We tackled another four boxes containing Kestrels: six good, evenly fed young in the first box, four and an egg in the next (which I ringed), then two of very different sizes and one egg (which they were cuddled up to) in the next and in the last there was just the one chick and four very cold eggs.

The one I enjoyed most was the single Buzzard Chick (see photo). While we were climbing to this nest, a pair of Red Kites (the female was visibly bigger than her mate) circled nearby and the female Buzzard kept watch, mewing all the while. Later, she was joined by the male but he soon slid off west.

Common Buzzard chick (DNS)

Afterwards, we went looking for Swallows in various farm sheds and barns. On one farm we found eight nests (there may be more) and ringed one brood of five that was ready. There four young lady onlookers/assistants as we did them. Some broods will possibly be ready at the weekend. Another species which we ringed was House Sparrow - four in a box on a stable. There are also some Stock Doves and Collared Dove nests that we (Dave) are following up and the following day (today), Dave rang me about a Spot Fly nest!!! And another!!!

Vale of Aylesbury

A day out; not really. I might have been doing what I like best, ringing, but today I had to earn my keep. As a senior ringer, it is my duty not only to train others but also to assess those who wish to become a trainer, either for a specific group or as a 'generalist'. To that end I accompanied Dave Short and three novice/prospective trainees.

Our mission - to visit several owl boxes and a jackdaw's.

Does this man have a Schedule 1 licence? Fortunately, yes.

We drove across a marvellous farm where they grow willow. Full of birds, it was. Up to the box with a bit of hush - and a bird flew out. B****r! Ladder up just in case - whoops - female bird.

"Well I never, she's already been ringed. Sorry, folks"

The female turned out to have been ringed elsewhere in the project area. [The Barn Owl Project is run and financed by Aylesbury Vale District Council, with assistance from the land-owners and HM Prison Service.]

Mrs Barn Owl.

We moved on to site No.2. This had a Kestrel box with new inhabitants. Expectation - four Tawny chicks to ring. Ha, ha!

Mum's sitting under the box.

Number 1 sibling is already out, well fed and sleepy.

We still had to get to the nest, way up in the oak. As the box is very high, we worked off the roof of the Landie.

So, onto the practical side - get the other three chicks ringed and weighed. This is where Dave "has to earn his money, nay, stripes". One each for the girls, Hilary, who climbed the ladder and extracted the birds, Monique and Nina.

Next we turned into shepherds. Arriving at site 3, we were greeted by some 30 or so Hebridean sheep that had escaped from their field by way of a wooden "gate". One of them had managed to dislodge it (it was only held up by one piece of string/twine that wasn't very tight anyway) and get out onto the cinder track, with the rest following like sheep do. Lots of (about) three-week old lambs followed their mums diligently but were a bit skittish when we appeared.

 Job done, gate thing tied up properly, to the next sheep field and our box. Ladder up, volunteer up, chicks out, return to ground level, avoiding nosy sheep (above). If you've never seen a dinosaur before, look you here!

There were three Jackdaw pulli in this one, again one each for the girls.
Next stop was Stowe School, or to be precise, one of two boxes up by "the moated folly" (see below).

Monique's turn up the ladder; her prize - one 10-12 day old Tawny.

The next one at another sheep farm was to be mine. Not a chance! The pesky "tree rats", i.e. Mr & Mrs Grey Squirrel, had decided to take over the box, which is in an oak close to a block of woodland, eating Mr & Mrs Tawny's young family in the process. The land-owner was not amused and will probably see to it that the 'squatters' end up paying more than rent!

Well, that was that! Only thing left to do was to return our "ladder man" back to Springhill open prison, drop the girls back at the Mill, and return to Dave's for a well earned coffee.

One more task - ring the Blue Tits in the box on the back of the garage. Nine in all (one runt), about 6-7 days old.

PS. Worth a look at this video - http://www.buckstv.co.uk/buckstv/outtakes.html "We had a hoot filming ..."

Kite country

Had to go to High Wycombe on Sunday 23rd. Jen attended to her late husband's grave while I watched for Red Kites on a windy day with great visibilty.

Jen at Paul's graveside Feb 09

Looking across the valley where 2 pairs are often seen

As is often the case (with me, anyway) a bird suddenly appeared below and close to, only then to disappear behind the neighbouring gardens' trees. Frustrated I put the camera away (a Fuji F610) when Jen had finished and we drove off. Just then, it popped out over the cemetery and I fumbled for the camera, leapt out, turned it on and managed to just get this one shot (below) as it veered away from us!. I could have had a brilliant pic if I had been prepared earlier. At other times, they have sailed over the open grounds of the cemetery and our heads.

Record shot at H.W. cemetery

From here, we went to Hughenden Manor. The objective was to walk to Naphill and have lunch in the pub there. However, we were directed along the 'blue' trail when we should have been on the 'purple' one. At the far end of that, Jen would have been able to connect with a footpath to the pub she was looking for. Never mind, it was pleasant enough the way we went.

Hughenden Woods (NT)

Decision time. We then went for lunch at a pub in Great Kingshill called the "Polecat". Good 'home-made' food on the menu for a reasonable price (for this 'posh' area) .

The "Polecat Inn" sign

Afterwards, we went for coffees at some friends' house, which overlooks a regular kite area. The field opposite had recently been cut and was littered with the remains of many voles, shrews, etc.
An adult Red Kite was mantling something while 2-3 Crows strutted their stuff nearby.

Looking towards 'Combe Hill' .
Nearby is " Chequers"

We make this journey every 3 months or so; graves should not be left un-tended, me thinks.