Nest boxes of one kind or another

Tuesday 10th April 2012:

With Chris from the National Trust on Wenlock Edge, two new Kestrel boxes have gone up - see photo !
First round of some of the nest boxes : Roman Bank site 17/20 occupied ( not all by birds ! ) and in a quarry less advanced and less take-up with only 7/16 boxes even containing trace of nest material. Thanks to William for his help here.

Recoveries, including a Peregrine Falcon ...

Friday 6th April 2012

Species: Peregrine          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: GN46050

Ringing details

Age: 1  Sex: male  Sex meth: S  P.ringed: 1  P.alive: 2  Condition: -

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

Ringing date: 03-Jun-2007

Reg code: CLE  Place code: CLE  Site name: Clee Hill, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire

Hab1: I2  Hab2: C2

Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193

Finding details

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

Finding date: 04-May-2009

Reg code: ---  Place code: CONF05  Site name: Site Confidential, Staffordshire

Finding condition: 79:81  Movement: --

Sight record by non-ringer    Identified by Colour Ring(s)

Remarks:

Duration: 701 days    Distance: 22 km    Direction: 70deg (ENE)

Finder: Shropshire Ringing Group, 9200 Species: Goldfinch          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: X089247 Ringing details Age: 6  Sex: male  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: - Ringing date: 02-Apr-2008   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: 79 mm.   Weight: 17.5 g.   Time: 1015hrs   Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193 Finding details Ring not verified  Age: 6  Sex: M  Sex meth: - Finding date: 06-Jan-2012   Reg code: SPR  Place code: SPR  Site name: Cross Lane Head, Bridgnorth, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO7095   Co-ords: 52deg 33min N  2deg 27min W  Hab1: E3  Hab2: F3   Biometrics: Wing: 80 mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: 0000hrs   Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: -- Controlled    Intentionally Taken Duration: 1374 days    Distance: 12 km    Direction: 338deg (NNW) Finder: Deans & Smith, 8062 Species: Sand Martin          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: X954376 Ringing details Age: 4  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: - Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: T  Act2: R Ringing date: 31-Mar-2011   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: 110 mm.   Weight: 15 g.   Time: 2045hrs   Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193 Finding details Ring not verified  Age: 4  Sex: M  Sex meth: - Finding date: 02-Jul-2011   Reg code: CRA  Place code: CRA  Site name: Cressage, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SJ5904   Co-ords: 52deg 38min N  2deg 36min W  Hab1: G7  Hab2: E3   Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs   Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: -- Controlled    Intentionally Taken Duration: 93 days    Distance: 22 km    Direction: 321deg (NW) Finder: Mr D Ellis, 3101

Two More Sand Martins - one good one !

Thursday 29th March 2012:

Another set up with three nets in main bed. Slightly bigger flock of 9 flying around - two caught with onset of dusk. One is a British control ...

First Sand Martins of the spring

Saturday 24th March 2012:

After an attempted roost on Thursday - lovely weather but no birds, another attempt was made this evening. Again lovely spring afternoon, still, sunny - a slightly chilly end. This time 4 birds came in, and Linda and I caught two of them in our double net in the main phrag bed. Also caught 3 Pied Wagtails and 3 Chiffchaff in the  hedge nets. Linda then showed me her astrology app - Venus and Jupiter shining bright and Mars too !

Elsewhere, Dave and Dave B have been up on Clee Hill - so far so good with a dozen pairs of Stonechat located.

Sedge Warbler and Great Tit recoveries !

Thursday 1st March 2012:

Species: Sedge Warbler          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: L784980

Ringing details

Age: 3  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: -  P.alive: -  Condition: -

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

Ringing date: 05-Jul-2011

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: 65 mm.   Weight: 11.2 g.   Time: 1830hrs

Remarks:

Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193

Finding details

Ring not verified  Age: 3  Sex: -  Sex meth: -

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

Finding date: 30-Jul-2011

Reg code: ICK  Place code: ICK  Site name: Icklesham, East Sussex

County code: GBESU  Grid ref: TQ8815 Accuracy 1  Co-ords: 50deg 54min N  0deg 40min E Accuracy 1

Hab1: C7  Hab2: E6

Biometrics: Wing: 66 mm.   Weight: 12.1 g.   Time: 0500hrs

Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: --

Controlled    Intentionally Taken

Remarks:

Duration: 25 days    Distance: 275 km    Direction: 130deg (SE)

Finder: Rye Bay Ringing Group, 9139 Species: Great Tit          Scheme: GBT          Ring no: TS16466 Ringing details Age: 1  Sex: unknown  Sex meth: -  P.ringed: 3  P.alive: 3  Condition: - Colour marks added: -  Metal marks added: -  Act1: -  Act2: - Ringing date: 28-May-2011   Reg code: ---  Place code: WENFS  Site name: Wenlock Edge NT Feeding Station, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SO5998 Accuracy 1  Co-ords: 52deg 35min N  2deg 36min W Accuracy 1 Hab1: A1  Hab2: -- Biometrics: Wing: -- mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: --hrs Remarks: Ringer: Chelmarsh Ringing Group, 9193 Finding details Ring not verified  Age: 3  Sex: F  Sex meth: - Colour marks added: -    Metal marks added: -    Act1: -  Act2: - Finding date: 21-Dec-2011   Reg code: ATT  Place code: ATT  Site name: Attingham Park, Shropshire County code: GBSHR  Grid ref: SJ5410   Co-ords: 52deg 41min N  2deg 41min W  Hab1: A1  Hab2: -- Biometrics: Wing: 73 mm.   Weight: -- g.   Time: 0000hrs Finding condition: 8:20  Movement: -- Controlled    Intentionally Taken Remarks: Duration: 207 days    Distance: 13 km    Direction: 334deg (NNW) Finder: Mr C J Whittles, 1247

Few surprises, but a decent ringing session at Chelmarsh

Sunday 24th February 2012:

Linda, Joe, Dave, Dave B and I : 2 hedge nets and nets by hide feeders. Some springtime activity with Lapwings displaying, Coots courting, Mallards in pairs.
Birds caught: 11 Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Reed Bunting, 1 retrap Marsh Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Dunnock, 1 retrap Coal Tit and 1 Water Rail.
Duck trap moved ; wood and phrag piles burnt ...

James rings some Gulls - with North Thames Ringing Group

Sat 11th February - Rainham Landfill, -12C on arrival !  After inauspicious start, 2 catches and over 400 birds processed. James' personal tally was:

3 Common Gull, 9 Herring Gull, 27 Black Headed Gull, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Yellow Legged Gull and 4 Lesser Black Backed Gull.

By rights James is now our Gull Expert !