If you missed it on Springwatch then check out this blog for the photo of the Blue Tit nest in the toilet sign here at Priory, plus some other strange choices for nest sites:
BBC - Nature UK: Springwatch: Some more of Britain's barmiest nests 2011
I had seen some nest material behind the perspex bubble a few weeks earlier and was hoping we would be able to follow the progress as the Blue Tits raised their family. However the nest ended up behind picture of the people as the adult birds made another hole to get behind it. It wasn't until the young were about to leave the nest that three of the youngsters moved into the front room allowing all to see them. The day after this picture was taken the nest was empty. Still, made us smile :-)
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Bird Ringing: Totals for CES Visits 6 & 7
CES Visit 6 (26/06/11)
Totals: 29 birds of 10 species: (retraps in brackets)
Robin 6 (0) = 6 [all juveniles]
Wren 3 (1) = 4 [2 juveniles]
Reed Warbler 6 (0) = 6 [5 juveniles]
Garden Warbler 2 (0) = 2 [1 juvenile]
Blackbird 2 (1) = 3
Dunnock 3 (0) = 3 [all juveniles]
Whitethroat 2 (0) = 2 [all juveniles]
Blue Tit 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Song Thrusth 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Blackcap 1 (0) = 1
A ringing demonstration was held during the morning - the highlight of which was a Song Thrush.
CES Visit 7 (03/07/11)
Today, the new CES period started so I decided to squeeze in Visit 7 of 12. I had high hopes after my success at Sandy Smith Nature Reserve yesterday (click here for more details).
The wind was virtually non existant for once. It was very sunny to start with the second half of the session very cloudy.
In order of appearance, the totals were: 35 birds of 11 species: (reptraps in brackets)
Great Tit 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Dunnock 8 (3) = 11 [8 juveniles]
Wren 1 (1) = 1
Blackcap 5 (1) = 6 [5 juveniles]
Robin 3 (1) = 4 [all juveniles]
Chiff Chaff 4 (0) = 4 [3 juveniles]
Reed Warbler 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Whitethroat 2 (0) = 2 [1 juvenile]
Chaffinch 1 (0) = 1
Blackbird 1 (1) = 2
Bullfinch 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Above: A juvenile Bullfinch.
My high hopes didn't get realised but I have no grounds for complaint! Thanks to David Howes for helping and to DK & DB and JM (ranger) for stopping by for a chat.
Being all at sixes and sevens for the last couple of weeks, we'll be have to wait a while before we're after eight!
Totals: 29 birds of 10 species: (retraps in brackets)
Robin 6 (0) = 6 [all juveniles]
Wren 3 (1) = 4 [2 juveniles]
Reed Warbler 6 (0) = 6 [5 juveniles]
Garden Warbler 2 (0) = 2 [1 juvenile]
Blackbird 2 (1) = 3
Dunnock 3 (0) = 3 [all juveniles]
Whitethroat 2 (0) = 2 [all juveniles]
Blue Tit 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Song Thrusth 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Blackcap 1 (0) = 1
A ringing demonstration was held during the morning - the highlight of which was a Song Thrush.
CES Visit 7 (03/07/11)
Today, the new CES period started so I decided to squeeze in Visit 7 of 12. I had high hopes after my success at Sandy Smith Nature Reserve yesterday (click here for more details).
The wind was virtually non existant for once. It was very sunny to start with the second half of the session very cloudy.
In order of appearance, the totals were: 35 birds of 11 species: (reptraps in brackets)
Great Tit 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Dunnock 8 (3) = 11 [8 juveniles]
Wren 1 (1) = 1
Blackcap 5 (1) = 6 [5 juveniles]
Robin 3 (1) = 4 [all juveniles]
Chiff Chaff 4 (0) = 4 [3 juveniles]
Reed Warbler 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Whitethroat 2 (0) = 2 [1 juvenile]
Chaffinch 1 (0) = 1
Blackbird 1 (1) = 2
Bullfinch 1 (0) = 1 [a juvenile]
Above: A juvenile Bullfinch.
My high hopes didn't get realised but I have no grounds for complaint! Thanks to David Howes for helping and to DK & DB and JM (ranger) for stopping by for a chat.
Being all at sixes and sevens for the last couple of weeks, we'll be have to wait a while before we're after eight!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Guided Walk Sunday 26/06/2011
Six people for the walk this morning and a good start with an Oystercatcher flying in and settling on the lawn in front of the sailing club. Yesterdays Sand Martins had moved on so it was just Swifts over the main lake today. Plenty of singing going on from the migrants and residents alike so all the usual suspects were heard and identified.
From the Spit a Green Woodpecker was spotted on one of the dead branches on the west side of the Finger lakes. It was soon seen off by a territorial Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Great-crested Grebe and Mute Swan families were seen on east Fingers and the Coot families were on west Fingers. Along with plenty of Mallards, males now taking on eclipse plumage during the moult. Males in various stages of eclipse could be seen.
In the Crescent Reedbed a number of Reed Warblers were heard and seen. A Reed Bunting was also singing.
We headed along the Navigation Channel and stopped to identify the Carrion Crows and Jackdaws on Kingsmead. Also of interest were the various stages of the Ladybird which could be seen on the Nettles. A little further along the NC a Sedge Warbler was singing and showing well.
Circling around we headed back to Finger Lakes with good numbers of butterflies in the meadow before we entered by the Sedgewick Seat. Meadow Browns were most numerous along with a few Whites and Commas.
Behind the Sedgewick Seat I spotted a large dragonfly hanging from a nettle leaf, later identified as a female Emperor. It stayed put long enough to get the scope on it and everyone had a good view.
Next stop was the Rough where another CES ringing session was going on. We were just in time for EG and DH to check the nets, returning with 4 birds. Pick of the bunch was a Song Thrush. Thanks once again to EG and DH.
Not a lot else of note as we headed back to the Visitor Centre and the end of the walk.
Next bird walk is July 24th at 8am.
Not a lot else as we departed
From the Spit a Green Woodpecker was spotted on one of the dead branches on the west side of the Finger lakes. It was soon seen off by a territorial Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Great-crested Grebe and Mute Swan families were seen on east Fingers and the Coot families were on west Fingers. Along with plenty of Mallards, males now taking on eclipse plumage during the moult. Males in various stages of eclipse could be seen.
In the Crescent Reedbed a number of Reed Warblers were heard and seen. A Reed Bunting was also singing.
We headed along the Navigation Channel and stopped to identify the Carrion Crows and Jackdaws on Kingsmead. Also of interest were the various stages of the Ladybird which could be seen on the Nettles. A little further along the NC a Sedge Warbler was singing and showing well.
Circling around we headed back to Finger Lakes with good numbers of butterflies in the meadow before we entered by the Sedgewick Seat. Meadow Browns were most numerous along with a few Whites and Commas.
Behind the Sedgewick Seat I spotted a large dragonfly hanging from a nettle leaf, later identified as a female Emperor. It stayed put long enough to get the scope on it and everyone had a good view.
Next stop was the Rough where another CES ringing session was going on. We were just in time for EG and DH to check the nets, returning with 4 birds. Pick of the bunch was a Song Thrush. Thanks once again to EG and DH.
Not a lot else of note as we headed back to the Visitor Centre and the end of the walk.
Next bird walk is July 24th at 8am.
Not a lot else as we departed
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