News Roundup

Monday, June 10th 2013

Late spring is always a busy time for the bird ringers and as already recorded on the blog, they are checking nest boxes.  Depending on the age of the chicks they may have to be revisited in order for them to receive their rings.  On Friday some owl chicks were ringed.  The ringing of the chicks is done carefully but quickly and the chicks returned to their nest.

Friday also saw preparation for the Car Boot Sale and Coffee Morning at Bedale the following day.  Thank you to everyone who helped raise funds for Foxglove.

A wet summer followed by a long winter, followed by a cold spring means that birds breeding, flowers flowering and insects appearing are not when we expect them to be.

Northern Marsh Orchid just making it into last year's May observations, is now in flower!

Marsh Marigold, usually associated with early spring is still showing its beautiful bright yellow flowers.

When the sun shines, Orange Tip butterflies can be seen feeding amongst the flowers.  

Warm weather sees damselfies doing 'circuits and bumps'!  Cooler weather has them sitting tight in the vegetation.

This morning was cold, as the bird ringers arrived, to clouds tinged with pink.  The air was filled not only with songs from the Curlew and Cuckoo, but the barking of the Roe Deer.

'Red sky in the morning shepherd's warning' - we should have taken note.  It clouded over and remained cold and damp until the afternoon.  Usually by CES 4 the females are away from the nests and juveniles are coming through the ringing room.  This late breeding season has resulted in only a few youngsters fledging as yet, mainly Greenfinches and Robins.  A welcome surprise was the number of new Song Thrushes as well as retraps taking the total caught today to 9 which is unusual.  It was the quietest ringing day so far this year though with only 85 birds caught.  Many adults are still sitting and the results from the nest box visits amplify this.

CES means long, enjoyable days for the bird ringers. Information gathered is of vital importance, particularly in years when 'our weather' is not as we expect it to be.  The report from the BTO later in the year will reveal how the birds have coped with the weather conditions.  Thank you to everyone who helped today.

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