July 2015

The total of 702 new birds of 35 species was helped by 5 mid-week sessions at Wraysbury. There was a juvenile Grey Wagtail at Stanwellmoor. Top species was Blackcap at 201 followed by Whitethroat and Garden Warbler at 76 and 75 respectively. 

June 2015

A good month with a flurry of juveniles on the last weekend. The total of 319 of 28 species included 3 Kingfisher, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Treecreeper and 3 Linnet although only single Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler were ringed.

Top species was Blue Tit with 43 but Reed Warblers did well with 37, closely followed by 35 Blackcap.

May 2015

At least 358 birds ringed in May, including 186 pulli, with some activity at Minet still to be reported. With no access to Windsor and holidays affecting two sites, this is not too far from the 400 or so done in recent Mays; pulli numbers were at the usual level.

Star species was a Barn Owl, a group first since a bird at Wraysbury back in January 1992.

A Blackcap, caught and released on 4th at Bedfone exhibited an unusual amount of pollen on its upper mandible.

Blackcap with pollen (Eleanor Page) 

Great Tit pulli (Carl Hunter Roach)

Barn Owl (Karl Tarratt)

Interview on Spring Watch

One of the group's ringers, Josie Hewitt was interviewed this month on Spring Watch Extra. Covering a lot of ground "the natural history of Josie" covers how she got interested in birds, general bird ringing questions as well as a ringing demonstrating from Josie, first with a Green Woodpecker and then a recently fledged Robin.

Josie's blog.

Bird Ringing Talk at BBOWT

A Runnymede Ringing Group trainer, Carl Hunter Roach, gave a talk on the origins of bird ringing and how it has developed. Using species such as Firecrest and Yellowhammer, Carl illustrated how bird ringing across Berkshire and at Woolley Firs Farm itself, fit into the national picture.

Talk at Woolley Firs Farm, BBOWT

Carl answers follow-up questions after the talk

April 2015

As the spring rush got underway, the weather was not exactly helpful and most sessions were wind-affected or cancelled.

Nightingale (Rachelle Reagan)

Nevertheless 145 birds of 23 species were ringed with Blackcap (44) and Chiffchaff (16) the highest numerically. Showstopper was a Nightingale at Bedfont on 19^th, the first record for the site in 25 years although two Mistle Thrush at Tythebarns are almost as unusual in RRG tables.

A sprinkling of other warbler species brought some returning regulars from previous years.

Nightingale (Rachelle Reagan)

March 2015

Despite a reasonable weather summary for the month, the facts were that most weekends were just too breezy to launch ringing sessions.

The total of only 35 new birds of 14 species reflects this but does include two Dartford Warblers from Chobham, two Chiffchaff from Bedfont and a Reed Bunting at both Chobham and Woolley Firs. Even retrap numbers were low but added interest came from a Cetti’s Warbler at Bedfont and a Firecrest at Woolley Firs.