Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 12/6/12

Another ringing session based at the Fields Study Centre on Stafford Marsh. This location is ideal for interacting with the public.

The session leader showing how it's done - Stafford Marsh June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

32 birds of 10 birds were caught and processed;

2 Blue Tit
10 Great Tit (3 retraps)
2 Chiffchaff
3 Blackcap
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Wren (1 retrap)
2 Blackbird (retraps)
4 Robin
1 Dunnock (retrap)
1 Goldfinch

As expected for a ringing session at this time of year, several of the bird caught were aged 3J (recently fledged young). To be precise, 67% of the bird caught in this session were 3J's.

Wren, Blue Tit and Great Tit (all aged 3J) - Stafford Marsh June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

There were plenty of other young birds visible in the vicinity too...

Mallard and Shelduck families - Black Hole Marsh June '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 - 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

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!