Sheringham - 31st July 2023

 We started the day at Sheringham for sea watching. The sea was much calmer than the weather forecast had led us to expect and by the time we arrived at around 7am there wasn't a great deal passing on the sea at all.

There were, however quite a few gulls loafing on the groynes and as the tide dropped, also on the beaches due to some shoals of small fish being drawn into shallow water, and in some cases being washed up on the shore.

Amongst the Black-headed and Herring Gulls, a Little Gull, a few Mediterranean Gull and a some Caspian Gulls were noted. Using the scopes it was possible to record three darvic rings.

Caspian Gull DGW(4|X)

The larger gulls happily took to the groynes, leaving legs 

exposed and available to check for darvic rings.

For all the smaller gulls present none were found with plastic project marks.

Caspian Gull RW (0.X)

A Yellow-legged Gull, the third gull recorded but not photographed was YN(P:5GZ)

Most unexpected records had to be a group of 5 Turnstone that dropped in very briefly and a Marsh Harrier that passed by out to sea.

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 28th July 2023

 A morning of very low wind gave us the perfect opportunity to survey the sewage lagoons. Chiffchaff was leading species with 17 and only two of these adults, both  females with brood patch code 5 (feathering over) and showing very nice examples of advancing primary moult now the breeding season is finished.

Primary moult, Adult Chiffchaff 4332000000

Similarly other adult migrant warblers captured were also commencing moult, although Sedge and Reed Warblers only begin body moult in the UK, doing their flight feathers much later in the year.

The juveniles are also on their way with over half starting post juvenile moult and several laying down fat in preparation for the migration south. 

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

Total: 44 (3)

Wren - 2
Robin - 1
Dunnock - 3
Reed Warbler - 5 (2)
Sedge Warbler - 4
Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 17
Blue Tit - 3 (1)
Great Tit - 3

Sculthorpe Moor Discovery Day - 26th July 2023

 Today we were joined by JLS and DKH for a ringing demonstration during Sculthorpe Moor's Discovery Day. The children's activities started later than previously so our numbers were dropping off by the time they were arriving. We were still able to engage some very interested adults, including a photographer who has been capturing images of our colour ringed Marsh Tits and another who used to be involved with an initiative similar to the Curlew headstart programme, but with Black-tailed Godwits.

Twenty five birds processed including a some already accruing fat with a few adults no longer showing breeding condition.

Thanks to JLS and DKH for supporting the demonstration.

Totals: 24 (1)

Wren - 2
Robin - 1
Blackbird - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 2
Reed Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 3 (1)
Chiffchaff - 5
Great Tit - 6

Tree Sparrows - 21st July 2023

After failing to capture any Tree Sparrows during the winter CES and having no birds take up the new boxes provided at the hay barn, we finally connected with some and marked three birds for the project.

It would be nice to average more than one Tree Sparrow per 13 or 14 birds (mainly tits) so we continue to refine our catching attempts. 

Hopefully, over the winter a number of new boxes will be put up at a second site to encourage nesting where monitoring is possible. 

Adult female Tree Sparrow

Adult male Tree Sparrow

Juvenile Tree Sparrow

Unexpected bonus of the day  was a captured flat fly from one of the Tree Sparrows, collected as part of an ongoing investigation into occurrence of flat fly species and birds that are their hosts.  

Capture and ringing undertaken with appropriate licences.

Total:43

Woodpigeon - 2
Dunnock - 1
Blackbird - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Blue Tit - 24
Great Tit - 4
Tree Sparrow - 3
House Sparrow - 4
Chaffinch - 1

 

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 20th July 2023

Rarely do we complete an entire sheet (60) of data on birds captured but we did it today! Better than that, the majority were migrants. Leading species Blackcap (25) followed by Reed Warbler (18 new).

Even a few Swallows for good measure.

An interesting observation was that there were three young Marsh Harrier roosting in the area when we arrived, so the report of an untagged bird last week didn't mean we missed one at all. Our thoughts are that a brood from close by have taken a liking to the lagoons and failing that there was another nest in the reeds that we didn't find.

Reed Warbler adult

3JJ Reed Bunting one of a handful of year round resident birds.

Two juvenile and adult male Swallow.

Total: 59 (3)

Swallow - 3
Song Thrush - 1
Wren - 1 (1)
Dunnock - 1
Reed Warbler - 18 (2)
Sedge Warbler - 2
Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 25
Chiffchaff - 6
Blue Tit - 2
Great Tit - 1
Reed Bunting - 3

Barn Owls - 19th July 2023

 Today we visited a barn that had a really high box. Much too high for a ladder, so we had a little help from the gentleman who had built the box as a teleporter was arranged for Chris to access the box. We were appreciative of the care taken, in the construction of this box, to ensure that chicks were unable to get out of the entrance hole until developed enough to avoid falling from the box platform. There was also an access hatch for ease of checking and clearing out.

Chris teleports up.

One of two surviving owlets. The remains of a third was in the box.

The chicks are returned after ringing.

Total: 2

Barn Owl -2 (pulli)

Sculthorpe Moor - 18th July 2023

We had an unexpected start with CL calling for the Lapwing rings to be brought to the scrape as he had seen and captured a youngster despite the increased water level and not having the hand net.

Joined by CVG, we caught 37 birds, including some summer migrant species that have been mostly absent from the capture sheet until now. We were pleased to get some Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers, and Blackcap became the leading migrant species whereas that position has been held by Chiffchaff  for the last couple of months.

Adult Sedge Warbler

There were 7 juvenile Wren, very pleasing as this was a very abundant species last year and captures throughout April to June seemed to indicate a high level of attrition during the harsh winter.

A Marsh Tit was captured and fitted with colour rings.

Marsh Tit G/N R/M

A nice change to have a day with little wind, although there was the very briefest of showers just as the last of the nets was taken down

Total: 34 (3)

Lapwing -1
Wren - 7
Robin - 1
Dunnock - 1
Reed Warbler - 3
Sedge Warbler - 2 (1)
Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 10
Chiffchaff - 4 (1)
Marsh Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 1
Coal Tit - 1
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Jay - 1