April 2014

Despite generally good weather this month the poor days did seem to fall on planned sessions so 235 new birds (127 Runnymede RG; 108 Maple Cross RG) was a reasonable total. We probably missed out on some migrants later in the month but still achieved 30 species with highlights of a Tree Pipit and a Firecrest at Wraysbury, Stock Dove at Tythebarns and Sparrowhawk at Hilfield.

Only Reed Warbler was missing from our usual warbler lineup with Blackcap making top numbers of 49. Five Robins at Tythebarns opened the pulli season.

March 2014

With many sites saturated and very muddy it took some opportunistic ringing to reach 279 new birds (154 Runnymede RG; 125 Maple Cross RG) of 31 species. The species quality was high with  pride of place going to 2 Woodlarks at Chobham. Whilst not new to the Group species  list – pulli were ringed in 1986 and 1988 – these are the first full-grown birds to appear. 

Woodpecker box

Complementing these, a Skylark was ringed at Woolley Firs and 14 Meadow Pipits (3 Stanwellmoor; 11 Wooley Firs). A Snipe was testimony to the dampness at Stanwellmoor and a Yellowhammer at Woolley Firs took the winters total there to 12. Other nice species handled were Redwing at Hilfield and Woolley Firs with 6 Dartford Warbler and a Common Redpoll at Chobham. 

Southerly winds early in the month brought in some warblers with 9 Blackcap and the top total for the month – 34 Chiffchaff (15 Bedfont and 10 Hilfield).

A Woolley Firs nest boxes were repaired and additional boxes added including a Great Spotted Woodpecked box.

February 2014

A difficult month with only a few hardy souls venturing away from gardens and out into the mud.

Around 266 birds of 28 species were ringed (135 RRG; 131 MX) which is actually about an average February total. Highlights were a Norwegian Common Redpoll trapped with another Common and Lesser Redpoll at Black Park, 2 Blackcap at the Meads and 37 Siskin at Iver Heath.

January 2014

Against the odds some sessions were possible in January and at least 395 birds were ringed (223 Runnymede RG; 172 Maple Cross RG) with a total of 32 species.

Firecrest
(Eleanor Page)

These included several nice ones such as Water Rail and Moorhen at Hilfield, Mistle Thrush at Home Court Farm and Firecrest at Bedfont, with Dartford Warbler at Chobham and Blackcap at Heston garden.

27 Pied Wagtail and 27 Fieldfare showed success with wary species and Redwing starred again with 51, second highest to Blue Tit at 67. Five Lesser Redpoll recoveries give an insight to the transient nature of the late October birds at Chobham.

2014

Male Goldfinch

A new year and despite the unsettled weather the group is managing to get out ringing.

We also continue to have people joining up to study birds and learn how to ring. There's lots to learn in the BTO training process; here's a very small example from a session last Sunday.

The Goldfinch opposite - yellow on wing & the head pattern are key to identification - can be sexed as a male. How? Male Goldfinches can be distinguished by a larger red mask that extends just behind the eye. In females, the red area is smaller.

Gordon Newport

Gordon Newport
1st Feb. 1944 - 7th Dec. 2013

We were greatly saddened to hear that Gordon died in hospital this December after a summer of illness.

Gordon joined the group, to begin ringing, in June of 2001 and during his training put many hours in at Wraysbury, Windsor, Minet and Silwood as well as visiting most of our other sites as he qualified as a C-Ringer and then an A-Ringer.

Gordon’s love of birding took him on ringing trips to China, Portugal and more recently Comino.

As a stalwart of the Windsor team, first with Malcolm and latterly with Carl, Gordon donned his waders at well over 100 sessions at Great Meadow Pond and trained many of those who came along to help.

Gordon was such a generous fellow; knowledgeable, egoless and always inquisitive about ornithology. Without doubt, all those who ringed with Gordon will miss him.

Our thoughts are with his family. Donations, if desired, in memory of Gordon, for Cancer Research UK or British Heart Foundation can be made via www.memorygiving.com/gordonnewport.

Bird ringing at a Bioblitz

Explaining how the nets work

Saturday afternoon was spent at Woolley Firs Farm. We placed mist nets next to a feeding station, sheltered from the high winds, and set-up our stall ready for visiting families.

We rarely catch lots of birds at these events but we ringed several family parties of Great Tit as well as a Blue Tit and a young Goldcrest.

Both the kids and the adults were delighted to get so close to some of our garden birds and we were impressed with the number of questions we had to field throughout the afternoon.

BBWOT are already talking about repeating the event next year!