Almost Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed!

Thursday, August 18th 2016

Some of the bird ringers have had several early starts recently.  They were at another site over the weekend and at the Crater this week, as the Mipit season has just started.  CES 11 had to be carried out today as the forecast for the weekend is so wet and windy. 

There were four Kingfishers caught over the weekend and the photos taken show what beautiful birds they are.  No excuse for showing several photos.

It can be difficult to ensure a good photograph that does the bird justice, as they can decide to have a good look around by moving their heads180 degrees. This is rather disconcerting when watching them through the camera.  So to get two together, watching each other is an excellent result.   Thank you Leanne.

Most often the only thing you see of a Kingfisher is a flash of brilliant blue and in this photo you can see why that is so.

Ringing Meadow Pipits, Mipits, started in late August 2011, since then we have ringed over 7300.  The weather at the Crater is critical and although calm at Foxglove, the wind may be blowing at the Crater so ringing is unable to take place.  Being so 'high up' you can see any inclement weather that is coming your way!   We are catching the birds as they stop on their migration route to feed, so the season is limited to about eight weeks.  

The majority of the birds caught are Mipits but the catch can include Willow Warblers, Goldfinches and Swallows.  This juvenile Swallow was caught yesterday.

CES 11 started dull but the sun came out and it was very warm.  The nets were raised in net rides that were in pristine condition thanks to the reserve managers and volunteers.  Huge thanks to them all.  Adult birds are still hiding away moulting so the majority of birds were juveniles.  A Great Tit made an appearance today that had fledged in 2009, making it seven years old.  Each net is numbered.  One Great Spotted Woodpecker was caught in the garden net and then flew down to the lake and was caught again. Radio contact ensured that it was released immediately.  Other birds processed included Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Song Thrushes, Bullfinches, Siskins, a Reed Bunting and a Nuthatch. 

Thank you to everyone who helped today.

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