Cancellation

Please note due to inclement weather conditions the session due tomorrow 2nd August is cancelled.

Sorry about that.

Mike

Kingfisher day

The Group is still working about twice a month on the Seaton Wetlands and last Monday had a catch of 77 birds, including three Kingfishers. Although not breeding on the lower reaches of the River Axe they certainly do higher up the river. We could not resist publishing these photographs taken by Chels at Dark Fairy Photography.

I will try and escape

Perhaps I will not bother

This is the life!

The public face of the Group

Last Saturday was the Natural Seaton Festival and the Group were invited to present a display of our activities. We have done this on previous occasions and is good to spread the word of our important work and hopefully recruit new members. Last Saturday was no exception. Photographs taken are shown and the second taken when the morning became busy.

Photographs Mike Tyler

Juveniles galore

Certainly a good breeding season for some species on and close to the Seaton Wetlands, with 134 birds of 21 species were caught today. The tally was:

Blackcap 9; Long-tailed Tit 1; Chiffchaff 23; Blue Tit 14; Great Tit 13; Chaffinch 13; Goldfinch 17; Robin 4; Dunnock 7; Swift 1; Kingfisher 1; Swallow 2; Willow Warbler 1; Reed Warbler 2; House Martin 1; Wren 2; Bullfinch 1; Reed Bunting 2; Greenfinch 17; Goldcrest 1; and Blackbird 2. 

 Of these only 24 were not identified as juveniles.

Not a bad morning's work!

Kestrel nestlings

The Group were able to ring a brood of five Kestrels nesting in a special box erected by the East Devon District Council on the Wetlands. Photographs below show the results.

(c) Photos by John Richards and Lesley and Peter Clarke

Migration and young birds

Since the last post the Group have been very active in catching nearly 300 birds of 24 species, including the ringing of 40 nestlings. These comprised of migrants passing through and remaining to breed on the Wetlands. The pleasure of catching and ringing young birds is always a delight in late spring and early summer. With an active programme for the rest of the summer we look forward to some interesting species visiting the Wetlands.

Some really nice copyright photographs appear below, where otherwise stated, kindly permitted for us for posting by Chels of Dark Fairy Photography (www.darkfairyphotography.co.uk). We are more than grateful to her in allowing us to use her high resolution photographs.

An aggressive male Greenfinch

Who do you think you are looking at!

Sedge Warbler twins!

A nice Sedge Warbler

Blue Tit in early spring

A Chaffinch with the wow factor (Photo Mike Tyler)

The wing pattern of a Goldfinch (Photo Mike Tyler)

Spring migrants

Last Tuesday the Group attempted a early start at the far end of Colyford Common.

The weather was kind and with little wind the sites on Colyford Common were worth attempting despite the jaunt with the equipment from the FSB (Discovery Hut). A total of 44 birds were caught included only five retraps. One retrap was the Siberian Chiffchaff originally ringed by the Group on 11th March this year. A bird reluctant to migrate back to its breeding site. Another surprise, although not in a net, was a female Marsh Harrier we disturbed on arrival, probably using the reed beds as a roost site.

Anyway the 44 birds comprised of: Willow Warbler 14 (probable early morning fall) certainly most had a nil or very low fat and muscle scores; Chiffchaff 11(2) no doubt some of the new birds accompanying the Willow Warblers; Cetti's Warbler 1; Wren 5(1); Dunnock 3(1); Long-tailed Tit 2(1); Greenfinch 4; Blackcap 1; Reed Bunting 2; and Blue Tit 1.

All in all a good morning.