River Thames, Windsor - 6 and 12 January 2015

We've had another very windy spell and haven't been able to get out to ring much yet this year so  took a walk along the Thames at Windsor to look for colour rings on Mute Swans.

Over the two dates we found several black on orange colour ringed birds. These birds have been ringed at Ruislip Lido and the surrounding area by Mike Reed.

This female was colour ringed at Ruislip Lido on 24/10/2013. 

We also picked up 041 (black on orange) on our second visit and wait to see whether  this is a different series used on Mike's study.

There were also several birds with black on white darvics. We already have some details for these, but others have yet to come through. So far, all were local birds. There was a time when many more of the swans at Windsor had white darvics but now they are becoming less common.

L3C

When birds stand out on the bank it's sometimes possible to read the metal BTO ring

 Chris tries for a clear view while birds preen on the bank

I photographed some, successfully, too.

We were really quite excited to see white on blue TO32 as we've never seen a dark blue one here before. 

T032

It seemed to match with a series issued by the Latvian scheme on dark blue. But ever keen to ensure reliable data is recorded, Chris made further enquiries just to make sure the O was not a 0. As it turned out, it was 0 and not O, and it was ringed under a project on juvenile dispersal at Winchester, so rather less well travelled than we first hoped. It was ringed on 3rd October in 2012.

Finally, we also witnessed the rescue of a Mute swan from between two barges. As ringers, we  are used to working under close scrutiny. I can't help thinking that I might have tried to increase the gap between barges rather than yank the bird out by its neck.

Wraysbury GP - 4 January 2015

The forecast for sub-zero temperatures tempted us and EP out to Wraysbury to try for thrushes again. Time was limited as EP needed to get away and off to work for the afternoon so just four double nets were deployed. We could hear Blackbirds and Fieldfare all around and a couple of each were caught.

 6M Fieldfare

6F Fieldfare

There were also a few of the usual Robins, Dunnocks and reasonable numbers of Goldcrests.
The capture of a trio of Bullfinch finished the morning off nicely.

 Bullfinches - all 5s

2 old greater coverts just visible on the male (that was in no hurry to leave).

Totals: 15 (4)

Wren - 2
Robin -  2 (1)
Dunnock - 0 (2)
Blackbird - 2
Fieldfare - 2
Goldcrest - 4
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Bullfinch - 3

Broadwater GP - 29 December 2014

On the last outting of the year we went with MRB and Margaret to do a final session at Broadwater. The temperature was well below freezing with a thick white frosting on everything.

The frost was much more spectacular than the birds caught that morning although it was nice to get a couple of winter Chiff-chaffs, a Bullfinch and some Goldcrests.

 Bullfinch female

Male Goldcrest

Total: 12 (2)

Robin - 1
Chiff-chaff - 2
Goldcrest - 1 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 4 (1)
Blue Tit - 1
Great Tit - 2
Bullfinch - 1

Wraysbury GP - 26 December 2014

We went out for a few hours this morning for some fresh air and a little exercise,and decided that a try for thrushes at Wraysbury was the order of the day.

On arrival there were plenty of thrushes about, but the vast majority were Fieldfare. We only put up three doubles and used the Lithuanian tape for Redwings.  We got a decent spread of species although the total number of birds was very modest.

 Redwing

 

 Blackbird

 Goldfinch

 Green Woodpecker

Songthrush

Totals: 9 (4)

Green Woodpecker - 1

Wren - 0 (1)

Robin - 2

Dunnock - 0 (1)

Blackbird - 1

Songthrush - 0 (1)

Redwing - 2

Goldcrest- 1

Long-tailed Tit - 1 (1)

Goldfinch - 1

Broadwater GP - 13 December 2014

We haven't been getting out much of late. Winter weather and someone recovering from pleurisy just don't mix well. Still, today we arranged to meet MRB and Margaret for an early morning try for Redwings. We know the birds roost here but failed miserably at a dusk attempt so have now gone for the 6.30am start. The nets went up well and the very first calls were not heard until the main nets were erected. It was extremely cold with the first haw frost of the winter.

I can't recall the last time this happened to equipment, if ever!

The first round was disappointing with only one Redwing in the net.

The first Redwing was a juvenile bird.

Subsequent rounds brought a few Goldcrests, a Bullfinch and a slow trickle of Redwings as well as a few retraps, including a Treecreeper with the usual selection of tits.

 

 Adult Redwing with rufous hue to tips and edge of greater and median coverts.

The temperature hovered around zero degrees until well after 9.00am and the increased frquency of net rounds (to minimise the time that birds spent in nets) was appreciated by those ringers wearing wellingtons (for the sake of our toes!)

 Juvenile male Bullfinch

 Another adult bird with heavier markings on breast than previously photographed individuals.

 By the time we got the last Redwing there was still frost on the ground despite some much welcomed winter sunshine.

Additional sightings included Little Egret, Red Kite, Grey Wagtail with 3 Goosanders on the lake. Nets down by 11.45am and on to the Crewroom Cafe at the aerodrome.

Totals: 24 (6)

Wren - 1
Robin - 0 (1)
Songthrush - 1
Redwing - 8
Goldcrest - 5
Blue Tit - 4 (3)
Great Tit - 2 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Treecreeper - 0 (1)
Bullfinch - 1

Broadwater GP - 27 November 2014

We were joined by MRB and Margaret for a few hours on site with just 5 nets open. We arrived to the sound of Redwing calls sounding throughout the site. Of course, we had come with the Lithuanian tape, however all birds had dispersed by the time the first net, suitable for catching Redwing, was up. Although we lost our chance today, we have made a mental note that attempts to net when birds are arriving or leaving the roost could be worthwhile.

The session proved good for Goldcrest in particular.

Male and female juvenile Goldcrests

There were also seven wintering Chiffchaff.

Chiffchaff

In total we processed a very respectable 29 new birds with seven retraps.

Totals: 29 (7)

Wren - 1 (1)
Dunnock - 1
Chiffchaff - 7
Goldcrest - 9 (2)
Bluetit - 8 (4)
Great Tit - 2
Bullfinch - 1