Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Deepdale Farm

Friday 27 October 2023

Deepdale Farm - 27th October 2023

As the spell of calmer weather continues, we again set nets on the marsh fields at Deepdale, this being our best site for autumn migrant arrivals. Over the morning we ringed a very narrow range of species, Meadow Pipits including a control, Reed Buntings with some clearly newly arrived as fat and muscle scores were both zero.

We also ringed the first Rock Pipit that the group has ringed, being the second new species of the week. We had done our first Skylarks this week too.

Rock Pipit

Control Meadow Pipit AZZ1649 adult showing full complement

of mature median and greater coverts.

Reed Bunting adult type 2nd tertial

Reed Bunting juvenile type 2nd tertial

We had not quite finished packing up when we got a call from Estelle at the farm office. She had just picked up a Shag. It had been walking down the farm road, heading north towards the sea. It may have been one of the three seen riding around on the topper on Wednesday. A search of the area later on Wednesday and on Thursday had found nothing and as the three had flown into a hedge they were thought to have been able to take flight. This may have been one of them or even have been a fourth bird.

We kept the bird in a box to rest while the tide came up, then released it at Wells-next-the sea. It was quite fit and immediately began to drink and feed once in the water.

Juvenile Shag

Ringed and ready for release.

The bird was strong and did not need to go to a rescue centre.

Totals: 38 (1)

Shag - 1

Rock Pipit - 1
Meadow Pipit - 22 (1 control)
Reed Bunting - 14

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.