Wild Ken Hill - 22nd May 2022

This morning's catch included some young birds hatched this breeding season. At present it's still too early for young from the summer migrants as they would have started later than the resident birds, spending time setting up territories while the birds already here would have started nest building and laying eggs sooner.

                                   Juvenile Robin that has not yet started its post-juvenile moult.

                                        Juvenile Song Thrush, still with gape in evidence and 

                                                      juvenile thorns on median coverts.

 

                                   

We caught a Jay and this bird received, in addition to the usual metal ring, an individually coded white plastic darvic ring, as part of a study undertaken by the University of East Anglia. The darvic ring will allow the bird to be individually identified without being caught. This type of study aims to increase records of individuals to find out more about their movements than would be possible from a bird with only a metal ring.

While on site there was a report of Caspian Tern along the coast. Unfortunately we missed that. However, the report did result in more skyward gazing than usual and the unusual sight of a Fulmar flying SW across the marsh pasture.

Total: 15 (8) 

Wren - 1
Robin - 3
Song Thrush - 1
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Grasshopper Warbler - 0 (1)
Reed Warbler - 2
Sedge Warbler - 1 (2)
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 2
Blackcap - 1
Chiffchaff - 1 (2)
Blue Tit - 0 (2)
Chaffinch - 0 (1)
Jay - 1