August 2015

August is generally our top month for numbers and several extra sessions, at Wraysbury C6 and Tythebarns, took us to a record total of 1,590 new birds of 37 species.

Among these were two Redstarts at Wraysbury, a 3J Firecrest at Woolley Firs, a couple of early Meadow Pipit at Stanwellmoor and two each of Cetti’s and Dartford Warblers adding to the migrant warblers.

Blackcap, at 417, were over a quarter of the catch with Whitethroat at 241 and Garden Warbler at 179 some way behind. There were good showings from the less frequent warblers with 33 Willow Warblers, 26 Sedge and 22 Lesser Whitethroat; the latter all from Wraysbury.

Bird Ringing talk for RDNHS

Carl Hunter Roach, a Runnymede Ringing Group trainer, is giving a talk on the origins of bird ringing and how it has developed. You can see him at Reading & District Natural History Society (RDNHS) this coming Tuesday, 20th October.

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