Monday, May 19, 2008

CES 2nd visit (19/05)

05:30 bloody parky (3deg C). Not an inspiring session with just the 20 birds, 9 of which were retraps. They're all grist to the mill!




Early break - went for a stroll and found the 5 Canada goslings ... with this darling, little sixth one, that must be at least one week younger!



Mother swan sat very tight when I had a peep ... she was fully aware of me!



As we were watching the 'planes go over, Ed spotted a large bird, high in the sky. It was a Peregrine heading towards Cople (07:15). Two male Gadwall were aerially chasing a female over our heads for some time. We were also entertained by a pair of Cuckoos before Ed hurried off to work at 08:30. Popping out to the 'new meadow', I was rewarded with a Stock Dove about 09:00.

Todays totals (new/retraps) are:-

Song Thrush 1/- (male, hatched '06),

Blackbird 1/- (male),

Wren -/1,

Dunnock 1/2,

Robin 4/- (all recently fledged juveniles),

Reed Warbler 2/- (both young males in sub-optimal habitat),

Whitethroat 1/- (young female),

Garden Warbler 1/-,

Blackcap -/2 (probably a pair since they were caught adjacent to a known nest),

Chiff -/2 (both originally caught at the beginning of April),

Blue Tit -/1 ( a well sh***ed out 2CY male, 50% bald but a very good weight) &

Chaffinch 1/-.

On two occasions, I was greeted by a very young face appearing at my feet. In the photo below, he/she was unsure whether to cross the rack or no; I was lucky to get any pic at all.


PS. Orange 454 is a 2001 hatchling (local), ringed in 2002.

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