After a spot of cow herding, 8 nets were set around the Colyford Common end of the reserve. It was the best turn out for some time, with 8 ringers attending. The first couple of rounds we had more ringers than birds, and it looked like there would be a lot of thumb-twiddling during the morning. However, at around 9:30 it livened up and we had an excellent session, catching 74 birds of 18 species.
Whilst birding, Willow Warblers & Chiffchafs can be quite difficult to tell apart unless they're singing. However, a pair of young birds caught together show how different they can be.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWhY9UiEQk65scVuQp25FpmUXapZd7OrED958HqlmJWhly8xF9BFpzilnLOKQaiZ3Z9xK2Y8fin6dQ8q0uwFcCTz9IxiQZxM5z2httjRWnO1Mf_2Jzfq0lvLw6g216zCt7pvoM8W3blTlsuLft_2zvtw6vq-CEyS2zOyzEzjQJkDLxMhULlKG4Uig-2s7b=w640-h480) |
Chiffchaff in complete juvenile plumage on the left. Young Willow Warbler on the right. |
In the hand, a close look at the wing can differentiate between the species, even in birds that have the same general appearance. A Chiffchaff will have the outer 6 primary flight feathers emarginated, but a Willow Warbler will only be emarginated to the 5th feather.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI7BfJwMiDzWhXYSj8HPbkgjODFM6Hn6viawDUU_9LEXMU19nvZRBK2k_vog3aUMHoMuy9a4wm0wDRTy9gvMh4P1MRkyQNJO4i7UH7b0HT9HkZtPvk0mogL3anwRUrSYgLQUybyBy6OlYBhwd-lO-dTeNcMJbuo0Cy_Qg0ZCNcEQVQwRKXwizuZSSBTups=w480-h640) |
The wing of a Willow Warbler as only the outer 5 feathers emarginated (feathers 1 & 2 partly obscured in this photo) |
We caught 15 Blackcaps, all of which were this year's youngsters, although they had been hatched at various times & were in different stages of their post-juvenile moult; some were still in complete juvenile plumage, some were part way through their moult, and one had finished.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjX4UURxvSpdP1AwwMQWnWvP68HnZGgH0wqY__XK47d98C-FqVp0hn1i-hjObFrLYbU8ke1Zb8Tu5kL6-MJ91JvDW4HWGITFlVFAZoIzUwOisy3oeBrwYXYVHWZBjnUg1X_87xJIXbVindQ2bO57EzBnGDsZcJLVTBZHG0WpL7ne4Og9n8HgtxzEpXC5dD3=w480-h640) |
Blackcap undergoing post-juvenile moult, still with juvenile head feathers. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIxo2lXJWPytuQpcQ_R1IrlpR-rnzqnBggrSZDZXVhdqh0jlQBGIRVIioFICizzqKXbdWZG3VrFtHPCadiB6bgyHnNeZk0o1EapddzWfuomYHi0BakAryp2WMpQsHdf82PLAgKyW-28HX8KkQuiaVkNRTHjZTTxSGN-Az41RWwM87plOpxrlFPb78-H453=w640-h480) |
Blackcap wing showing greater coverts in various stages of growth, this bird having lost the greater coverts grown in the nest. |
16 of the 17 Goldfinches caught were juveniles which hadn't yet completed their post-juvenile moult to acquire their red faces.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyOAD8Mf3vIwwnjJAmY8mUUyIXTZKLjA8mbi6VIFjk7WsCVpn8TifWPDUbcbZfa_Zarrv6g6kfxrK23cNLYMRcuBpPxAt2KEyU_AWCBzlrG4Z4-h4TyPuvELfpMDCTPfxjm1xG4Dt_EoPufTFzvFCD04iQLI3JjS_jO7pBVarevO2DoAJILOIiwN9lTzl8=w480-h640) |
Juvenile Goldfinch |
The star of the show though was the Marsh Tit, a first for the site!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMVWC7I3rKWJSoE1QjvTqheFtFa_yO2ivt24atoCny1aO5YYPKEb31CQtmkEMx_rDWLkHZ431vB95cVk1d8vv7Dw2BGdF8dhZAD0sNp4BThexX_Eg8_HJAUQHUgg8KUEplnPaecR2og9wyWZgbx-J6jFYBUVuWz5Lly4zmf-9M8Ax6HptaUilGSV7VfXns=w480-h640) |
Marsh Tit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcy2KmRWqkmy4T0PX2SUGaDatJL8Y2xxm-moRhzOgtzVed6H9s5TeHY07iIgFEhgEVErvcbk2TEGvebYcZD4kK9eucz2NCN-h36iLwPZODzGvfEc2mpG573w7nb8AxXxiMwJP965m9-pD4GlcVJkMTfh0HSLblhEKBInopwt3LovvO6BtO1jEd4cUbtnBH=w640-h480) |
Part of the Team! |
| Rung | Re-trapped (original ringing date) |
Blackbird | 2 | 1 (22/5/23) |
Blackcap | 15 |
|
Blue Tit | 1 | 1 (13/7/23) |
Chiffchaff | 2 |
|
Dunnock | 1 | 2 (12/6/23 & 2/11/21) |
Goldfinch | 17 |
|
Great Tit | 1 |
|
Greenfinch | 9 |
|
House Sparrow | 6 |
|
Linnet | 1 |
|
Marsh Tit | 1 |
|
Reed Warbler | 1 |
|
Robin | 6 |
|
Song Thrush | 1 |
|
Stonechat | 1 |
|
Swallow | 1 |
|
Willow Warbler | 2 |
|
Wren | 1 | 1 (22/5/23) |
| 69 | 5 |