June 2014

Robin (D Harris)

June totals often vary widely dependant on the number of pulli available but this month’s total of 1019 (449 Runnymede RG; 570 Maple Cross RG) has the largest number of full-grown birds (986) since 2006.

46 species were ringed (38 Runnymede; 33 Maple Cross) with 2 House Martins at Windsor, a Mistle Thrush at Wraysbury and a Grey Wagtail at Hilfield being the highlights.

House Martin (C Hunter Roach)

It is only a couple of years since we tried for 10 Cetti’s Warblers in a year; here we have 8 in a month! There was our first Nightjar of the year, 3 Kingfisher, 19 House Sparrow, 9 Tree Sparrow and a Linnet for good measure.

Blue Tit was top species at 135 followed by Blackcap at 107 but it was the number of Robins that caused comment – 78 compared to a 5-year June mean of 39.

Pulli numbers were low this month due to the ‘late running’ of the Bedfont gulls and terns and predation of Swallow nests at Tythebarns.

A female Reed Warbler caught at Windsor was ringed last August just north of Lisbon, Portugual - 1,400km away.

May 2014

As is to be expected, totals soared this month with over 959 birds ringed (438 Runnymede RG; 521 Maple Cross RG), the highest May total since 2006. Pulli were a major component at 462 (186; 276) mostly Blue Tit (351) and Great Tit (107) but also 3 House Sparrows and a Lapwing chick. 

Elsewhere, CES sessions started with early indications of a good season for juveniles and the usual mixed fortunes for resident and migrant species. High water levels persisted at Bedfont and Stanwellmoor with only 3 new Reed Warbler against 17 in 2013 and returning birds only 2 against 25 in 2013.

In gardens, the arrival of juvenile Starlings and their parents raised them to third place behind Blue and Great Tits with 97 ringed whilst Blackcap and Robin followed with 54 and 52 respectively.

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.