Interesting Chiffchaff in garden

Friday 18th April 2014

Going up to feed chickens and Bryn ( Kelpie dog ) flushed a Chiffchaff which clearly had a ring on its leg. Net up and before too long it was caught and identified as a bird ringed in August 2011, also in the garden, as a young bird.
Garden currently has Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat singing.

A few days at Portland Bill Observatory

Linda and I spent four days ringing at Portland Bill earlier this week, hoping for some good birds migrating across the channel. Great set up and great people both for ringing and for birding generally. Early starts around the observatory gardens, but an easy and well-worked set of rides in excellent cover to pull in the passing birds.
Sadly the weather was against us on three of the four days, though on Monday 14th we had a sizeable fall of over 200 migrant warblers.
In the main we rung Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, but also had 2 Redstart, a first Whitethroat for the year, Pied Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Wren, Greenfinch, House Sparrow and a handful of Linnet.
Birding was great: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Guillemot, Common Scoter, Little Owl, Peregrine, Kestrel, a passing Ring Ouzel, Rock Pipit, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Raven, Stonechat, Shag

For more information: Portland Bill Bird Observatory blog

Sand Martins caught at Chelmarsh

Saturday 5th April 2014

Just when Linda and I were giving up hope, a small and very active party of Sand Martins came into the scrape to feed some time after sunset. Of the 50+ birds thought to be flying around we caught 37 in the nets along the path to the hide. Of the 37, 4 were ringed as Chelmarsh birds, 3 from 2013 and 1 from 2011. Interestingly, two of the 2013 birds had been ringed together as juveniles on the same night last Autumn by Linda.

Attempt to net Sand Martins

Saturday 29th March 2014

Dave, Linda and me - a net up for Warblers and nets along side of scrape in attempt to catch any arriving / roosting hirundines. Approximately 20 or so Sand Martins came in, but sadly they evaded the net, perhaps largely due to lack of cover either side due to Starling roost having flattened just about everything.

Birds ringed: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting

Good views of Curlew ( 9 in total on scrape ), and nice to hear Lapwing and Oystercatcher.

First ringing of the year at Chelmarsh !

Saturday 22nd February 2014

At last some respite from the wettest winter in 200 years or so ... and the chance to have a go at catching some of the Starling roost that has been reported. There was certainly evidence of big numbers given localised damage to the reeds.

In the end, Linda and SC saw no more than 50+ birds at dusk, but they were soon unsettled and made off due to a very active Sparrowhawk awaiting its supper.

Birds ringed: 3 Reed Bunting and 2 Long-tailed Tit

Hopefully the year ahead will be a little more productive !

A couple of Wenlock Blue Tit recoveries

Species: Blue Tit          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: L784630

Ringing details

Age: 5  Sex: female  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: A  Act2: -

Ringing date: 23-Jan-2011

Reg code: ---  Place code: MUCHW  Site name: Much Wenlock, Shropshire

County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO6299   Co-ords: 52deg 35min N  2deg 34min W

Hab1: F3  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: 61 mm.   Weight: 11.3 g.   Time: 0925hrs

Remarks:

Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: -  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: -

Finding date: 07-Jun-2013

Reg code: ---  Place code: MUCHW  Site name: Much Wenlock, Shropshire

County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO6299   Co-ords: 52deg 35min N  2deg 34min W

Hab1: F3  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Finding condition: 2:01  Movement: --

Freshly dead    Bird Found

Remarks:

Duration: 866 days    Distance: 0 km    Direction: 0deg (---)

Finder: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193 Species: Blue Tit          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: L784872 Ringing details Age: 1  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: 9  P.alive: 10  Condition: - Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -   Ringing date: 22-May-2011   Reg code: ---  Place code: WENNB  Site name: Wenlock Edge, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO5898 Accuracy 1  Co-ords: 52deg 35min N  2deg 37min W Accuracy 1 Hab1: A3  Hab2: --   Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs   Remarks:   Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193 Finding details Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: -  Sex meth: - Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: -   Finding date: 19-Dec-2013   Reg code: ---  Place code: WYKE  Site name: Wyke, Much Wenlock, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SJ6402   Co-ords: 52deg 37min N  2deg 32min W  Hab1: F3  Hab2: A1   Biometrics: Wing: 67 mm.   Weight: 11.5 g.   Time: 0930hrs   Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: -- Controlled    Intentionally Taken Remarks:   Duration: 942 days    Distance: 7 km    Direction: 57deg (ENE) Finder: Mr S J Davies, 5155

More recoveries - Lesser Redpoll and Chiffchaff

Species: Lesser Redpoll          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: D397829

Ringing details

Age: 5  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: A  Act2: -

Ringing date: 04-May-2013

Reg code: HIG  Place code: HIG  Site name: Highley, Shropshire

County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO7483   Co-ords: 52deg 27min N  2deg 23min W

Hab1: F2  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: 71 mm.   Weight: 14 g.   Time: 1620hrs

Remarks:

Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 5  Sex: -  Sex meth: -

Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: P  Act2: -

Finding date: 16-May-2013

Reg code: BAR  Place code: BAR  Site name: Bardsey Island, Gwynedd

County code: GBGWY  Grid ref: SH1121   Co-ords: 52deg 45min N  4deg 48min W

Hab1: E3  Hab2: --

Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs

Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: --

Controlled    Intentionally Taken

Remarks:

Duration: 12 days    Distance: 167 km    Direction: 282deg (WNW)

Finder: Bardsey BO, 9008 Species: Chiffchaff          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: ENV025 Ringing details Age: 3  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: - Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: -   Ringing date: 13-Aug-2013   Reg code: CHE  Place code: CHE  Site name: Chelmarsh Reservoir, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO7387   Co-ords: 52deg 29min N  2deg 24min W  Hab1: C7  Hab2: G2   Biometrics: Wing: 61 mm.   Weight: 8 g.   Time: 1745hrs   Remarks:   Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193 Finding details Ring not verified  Age: 2  Sex: -  Sex meth: - Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: -   Finding date: 29-Sep-2013   Reg code: JRC  Place code: ---  Site name: Beanacre, Wiltshire County code: GBWIL  Grid ref: ST9065   Co-ords: 51deg 23min N  2deg 9min W  Hab1: F3  Hab2: --   Biometrics: Wing: 62 mm.   Weight: 7.6 g.   Time: 1705hrs   Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: -- Controlled    Intentionally Taken Remarks:   Duration: 47 days    Distance: 124 km    Direction: 173deg (S) Finder: Mr J C Rolls, 1252