Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Wraysbury GP

Sunday 27 August 2017

Wraysbury GP - 22nd August 2017

At a time of year when we would be expecting totals in excess of the hundred we managed a respectable 92 this morning. MRB joined us as a guest and Margaret happily scribed for a range of species that they rarely see at their MX ringing group sites.

Lesser Whitethroat age 3

From the first round MRB got a Lesser Whitethroat, a species that he has only ringed in Portugal. There were also a few Whitethroats, again a bird he rarely sees, and a species that was found breeding in good numbers on this part of the site before the new ground management. Fewer migrating sylvia warblers are now drawn to the site, devoid of cover as much of it is, but those that are here, are skirting the periphery, where we net.

Whitethroat age 4

There were decent numbers of Blackcap, including a control S530810. This bird was hatched this year, but it will be interesting to find out where it has come from.

We also caught a 3M Sparrowhawk. The bird had a deformed bill, shown below with an example of a healthy bird of the same age and sex, taken a couple of years ago.

3M Sparrowhawk

Gapping sides to beak with protruding flesh

A discussion on the UK ringers forum on social media has helped us pin this down to a condition known by falconers as 'frounce', and caused by Trichomoniasis. It is well known in finches, although the manifestation is somewhat different in them, and is actually increasingly common in accipiters. The BTO haS been investigating a possible link between increased cases of Trichomoniasis and a reduction in Sparrowhawk numbers since 2005 when the condition first really started to take hold in the country.

Normal beak

It is now a month since the site was mowed and the goats rue is back with avengence. We have heard that the strategy is supposed to rid the site of the horrible stuff, and if that is the intention, well, it's not working!

We rue the day anyone thought this was a good idea! Probably no chance of Meadow Pipit this autumn, and much fewer warblers working through the centre of the site.

Totals: 81 (11)

Sparrowhawk - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1

Robin - 4 (1)

Song Thrush - 0 (1)

Lesser Whitethroat - 2

Whitethroat - 12 (3)

Garden Warbler - 3

Blackcap - 32 (5)

Chiffchaff - 17 (1)

Willow Warbler - 3

Blue Tit - 1

Great Tit - 2
Goldfinch - 2

Linnet - 1

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.