Colyford Common - 26/6/12

Today was the first session for a while at the top end of Colyford Common, in the reedbed and the crop field. It was a bit of a job transporting the kit up to the north end as there was no vehicle available for this session.

Ringing at the north end of Colyford Common - June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Weather; somewhat misty in the valley which cleared to give low cloud. This combined with little wind meant for pretty ideal mist netting conditions.

Without the luxury of the Field Studies Centre, it was back to basics for the team - no tables or chairs!

On the grass - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The long slog was certainly worthwhile, with 76 birds of 14 species caught, and only 10 retraps:

4 Blue Tit (1 retrap)
4 Blackcap
3 Sedge Warbler
14 Reed Warbler (3 retraps)
2 Wren (1 retrap)
6 Blackbird (1 retrap)
4 Song Thrush (2 retrap)
1 Robin
2 Dunnock (1 retrap)
11 House Sparrow
19 Greenfinch (1 retrap)
4 Goldfinch
1 Linnet
1 Reed Bunting

Several of these birds were (as expected) 3J's.

3J Reed Bunting - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Of the adults caught, this Linnet was surely the smartest.

Male Linnet - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

But this Blue Tit was arguably the most interesting (from a ringer's perspective!) showing a feathering over brood patch and in active wing moult.

Blue Tit - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The team were unlucky to not catch a Sparrowhawk; a big female was in the net but escaped when the (would have been!) extractor was just a few paces away. You'll have to wear your running shoes next time Mike.

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 26/5/12

The team were keen this morning - or some of them anyway - with a 04:30 start! This proved worthwhile as a decent catch made.

Weather; cloudy start but clearing to give a fine sunny day, though not as warm as recent days.

In all, 34 birds of 10 species were processed:

1 Chiffchaff
19 Reed Warbler (6 retraps, 1 control)
2 Great Tit
3 Blackbird (1 retrap)
2 Dunnock (retraps)
1 Wren
1 Robin
3 Greenfinch
1 Chaffinch
1 Goldfinch

The control Reed Warbler was wearing a French ring, but it is one the Group has caught before, back in 2010.

French ringed Reed Warbler - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The two Great Tits ringed were recently fledged young birds.

3J Great Tits - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The weekend session, along with the nice weather meant plenty of passers by stopped to see the ringing activities.

Showing the punters - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

And the sun ensured it was a pleasant session for the ringers too.

Returning to base - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Though there were enough birds to keep them busy (or keep them looking busy anyway!).

Fields Studies Centre - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 11-13/5/12

The first ringing weekend of the year, when sessions are held on three consecutive days, starting Friday afternoon, continuing throughout Saturday and coming to an end midday Sunday.

Colyford Common and Black Hole Marsh - May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Over the three days 67 birds of 17 species were caught and processed. Please note though these are the combined totals of the three days, and some birds are included that were retrapped on different days.

1 Kingfisher (retrap)
5 Blue Tit (3 retap)
2 Great Tit (retraps)
2 Swallow (1 retrap)
1 Chiffchaff
7 Blackcap (3 retrap, 1 control)
1 Sedge Warbler
7 Reed Warbler (3 retraps)
5 Wren (4 retraps)
8 Blackbird (5 retrap)
3 Song Thrush (retraps)
3 Robin (2 retrap)
8 Dunnock (6 retrap)
1 Pied Wagtail
6 Greenfinch (1 retrap)
6 Goldfinch
1 Bullfinch

The Blackcap control was a bird that was originally ringed at Beachy Head, East Sussex, on 16th September 2010. We controlled it first on 16th April 2011, and it's back again this spring!

The control Blackcap - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The first Reed Warbler ringed of 2012 - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Many of the group members were present at some point over the weekend.

Peter measuring the wing of the Swallow - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Even the boss made an appearance!...

Mr T updating the net rounds board - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

And lastly, some nifty camera and editing work from the man responsible for 80% of photos on this blog...

Kestrel composite - Stafford Marsh May '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 10/4/12

Another mist netting session for the AERG that coincided with unhelpful weather conditons for this patime. It was looking to be one of the poorest ever sessions for the group. Well that was until this blogger left!

Field Studdies Base - Stafford Marsh Apr '12 (c) Steve Waite

Weather: Sunshine and few clouds, with a breezy s w wind until late morning, when cloud rolled over and a few rain showers broke out - prompting the end of the session.

The mist net set by the bird feeders on Stafford Marsh 'saved' this session. On sunny days, mist nets are so obvious to the human eye...so they presumably are to birds' eyes too!

A sunlit mist net - Colyford Common Apr '12 (c) Steve Waite

Up until 10:00, the team had only caught one bird, but by the session's end at midday, 12 birds of 4 species were processed;

1 Blackbird (retrap)
1 Dunnock (retrap)
1 Chiffchaff
9 Greenfinch

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 27/3/12

The summer-like weather continues, which makes for a lovely day out - just not if you're a bird ringer!

Weather: beautiful blue skies and unbroken sunshine, with a slight SE wind.

A bit of a breeze with bright sunshine is about as bad as it gets for mist netting. Sunlight reflects off mist nets which makes them a lot more visible to birds, but add to this the slight movement caused by even a gentle breeze, and they look about as obvious as a brick wall!

Another down side to this weather at this time of year is the numbers of migrants that make landfall. When there are light winds and a high pressure, migrating birds (i.e. warblers, thrushes, chats, etc) fly high and straight over the south coast of the UK. Only when there is cloud, ideally coupled with some light rain, do any numbers of migrating birds become grounded.

Still, 9 birds of 5 species were processed;

1 Song Thrush
3 Blackbird (2 retraps)
2 Dunnock (retraps)
2 Wren (retraps)
1 Great Tit (retrap)

A male Blackbird being ringed and measured - Stafford Marsh March '12 (c) Doug Rudge

The session leader totting up the final totals (it didn't take long!) - Stafford Marsh March '12 (c) Doug Rudge

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 6/3/12

Another session based from the Fields Studies Centre on Stafford Marsh. Although the weather made it very pleasant to be out in, it was far from ideal for mist netting.

Weather: a glorious day with unbroken sunshine, although a NW wind began to pick up from mid morning. Visibility excellent.

21 birds of 10 species were trapped and processed;

1 Mallard
1 Kingfisher
5 Blackbird (2 retrap)
1 Song Thrush
2 Robin (1 retrap)
3 Dunnock (2 retrap)
3 Wren (2 retrap)
1 Great Tit
1 Blue Tit
2 Greenfinch (1 retrap)
1 Bullfinch

The Kingsfisher trapped and ringed was the 53rd ringed by the Group.

'Check out my orange underwings' - Stafford Marsh March '12 (c) Doug Rudge

At one point it got so quiet that some mist net repairing proved a good idea.

How to repair a mist net by Neil and Adrian - Stafford Marsh March '12 (c) Doug Rudge

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 25/2/12

This morning was a public demonstration session, part of the EDDC's Winter Bird Festival.

Throughout the morning a good number of onlookers watched the group process a small number of birds caught either through mist nets set on Stafford Marsh and Colyford Common, or the Abberton Traps on Colyford Common.

Weather: Dry but overcast, light west wind, very mild.

Only 4 new birds were ringed, but in total 18 birds of 8 species were processed;

4 Mallard (2 retraps)
4 Moorhen (all retraps)
2 Blackbird (retraps)
1 Dunnock (retrap)
1 Wren (retrap)
3 Blue Tit (2 retrap)
2 Long-tailed Tit (retraps)
1 Goldfinch

No pictures I'm afraid! Plenty more in the next post though I promise...

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 21/2/12

This seemed like the first mist netting session for a long while, although the five hours spent in the field may have shown why! Despite the good mist netting conditions, the total was poor.

Weather: Dry and mild, cloud cover varying from 30%-70%, light west wind though the odd noticeable breeze, good visibility.

Five nets were set in all, most along the Stafford Brook, with single mist nets also on Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh. Right from the start it did 'feel' quiet, but it is always worth a go - you just never know! Not long til the Spring now though...

11 birds of 8 species were processed;

2 Blackbird
1 Song Thrush
1 Robin (retrap)
1 Dunnock
1 Wren (retrap)
1 Long-tailed Tit
3 Greenfinch
1 Bullfinch

Bullfinch 5m - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Steve Waite

Wren wing (aged 6) - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Steve Waite

The rarest sight of the day, the blogger actually ringing a bird! - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Happy Christmas

Robin - Colyford Common Dec '08 (c) Steve Waite

The Axe Estuary Ringing Group would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 15/12/11

Today saw the Group's annual festive feast! The last ringing session of the year always includes the bonus of lots of food and drink! This year, due to the weather there was a lot less ringing though, with mist netting only possible during the gaps between the showers. All ringing operations centered around the Field Studies Base, and the Abberton traps on Colyford Common were also used.

Weather; Heavy showers with some dry interludes, 100% cloud cover and a moderate south west wind.

The weather really did interrupt the ringing today. Just half an hour after the nets had been set, they were felled due to a rain shower. So although this was inconvenient for the ringing - it didn't matter as much as usual because there was plenty of food to eat!!

A game was even set up in the classroom by Adrian Bayley. Identify the species by its eye...

Doug having a closer look - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

And the winners were...

Doug and Fraser with the prize, some nuts! - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

Back to the ringing, and only 13 birds of 6 species were processed;

2 Mallard
1 Moorhen
2 Blackbird
1 Robin (retrap)
6 Greenfinch
1 Goldfinch

Male Mallard about to be weighed - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

'The boss' keeping his hands in - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 1/12/12

This mist netting session was another one that was meant to be taking place in the Crop Field at the north end of Colyford Common. But due to the apparant lack of birds currently feeding in and around the field, the group operated around the Field Studies Base on Stafford Marsh, and at the southern end of Colyford Common.

The Classroom and Field Studies Base - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Peter Bennett

Weather: Dry, a slight 'bite' in the air, but still relatively mild for the time of year, overcast with 85% cloud cover, no wind, good visibility.

Despite the conditons of the previous day (strong winds and rain), it proved an absolute ideal day for mist netting. When the sun is shining, mist nets stand out to both the human and birds eyes, so the cloud cover meant this wasn't an issue. Also the lack of wind ensured the mist nets remained still. When nets move in the wind, birds can see the momevent and this usually means for a lesser catch.

As well as mist netting, the Abberton Traps were also set on Colyford Common.

Abberton Traps - Colyford Common Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

It was a very productive day of ringing, with a total of 68 birds of 14 species processed;

4 Moorhen
11 Blackbird (2 retraps)
1 Redwing
1 Song Thrush
3 Robin (1 retrap)
3 Dunnock (all retraps)
4 Wren (2 retraps)
1 Great Tit (retrap)
12 Blue Tit (8 retraps)
8 Long-tailed Tit (5 retraps)
2 Chaffinch
11 Greenfinch
5 Goldfinch (2 retraps)
2 Bullfinch (1 retrap)

So, the Abberton Traps did the trick with the Moorhens - which made a nice addition to the day's species list.

Extracting a Moorhen - Colyford Common Dec '11 (c) Peter Bennett

Processing Moorhens - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

3 Moorhen (aged by leg and bill colour, and body feather colouring) - Stafford Marsh Dec'11 (c) Adrian Bayley

There had obviously been something of a fall or arrival of thrushes with the numbers caught. The highlight was without doubt the Redwing - only the fourth ever to be trapped and ringed by the group.

Ageing the Redwing - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Peter Bennett

Redwing - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

Two 3M Blackbird (presumably migrants?) - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

Ageing the Song Thrush - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Peter Bennett

This session was attended by two of the group's most experienced A ringers...

How to tie up a guy correctly by Mike - Colyford Common Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

But there was no doubting who was the session's designated 'A Ringer In Charge'...

Is this what they call 'overseeing?' - Stafford Marsh Dec '11 (c) Adrian Bayley

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 10/11/11

This mist netting session was planned to take place in and around the crop field, but due to the potential threat of rain the decision was made to operate around the Field Studies Base on Stafford Marsh, and around the southern end of Colyford Common.

A mist net set besides Stafford Brook - Colyford Common Nov '11 (c) Doug Rudge

Weather: nothing like the forecast! Dry and mild with some sunny spells, cloud cover varying 50 - 80%, still with gentle s w breeze from late morning, excellent visibility.

The conditions ironically turned out to be ideal for mist netting, with no wind and mostly overcast skies. The net by the bird feeders next to the Field Studies Base proved to be the most productive during this session, not a surprise at this time of year.

Trainees extracting birds under the watchful eye of the session leader - Stafford Marsh Nov '11 (c) Doug Rudge

33 birds of 9 species were processed;

3 Robin (all retraps)
2 Dunnock
1 Wren (retrap)
2 Goldcrest (1 retrap)
1 Great Tit
13 Blue Tit (6 retraps)
1 Chaffinch
5 Greenfinch (1 retrap, 1 control)
5 Goldfinch (2 retraps)

Goldcrest F - Stafford Marsh Nov '11 (c) Doug Rudge

The control Greenfinch was first ringed by 'the blogger', in his Seaton garden on 22/7/11. So it's moved 1.3 miles in 111 days - not the most adventurous passerine!