We ringed just a handful of Common Terns at Watermead on the 9th (definitely our last visit this year). After the horific weather earlier in the week it was a great relief to find lots of young already flying and the others doing well on the ground, including several well developed birds (below left) and (right) a chick which had only just hatched (too small to ring). I make no apology for going all mushy at the sight of this tiny one and the fact that its unhatched sibling was calling quite clearly from inside the egg! ah.
On the 10th we were out ringing Sand Martins at the Wanlip end of the river valley.
News of a recovery (a bird ringed by us has been found dead). Sad to say cats are not only a problem in the UK! Details as follows....
RH56612 Fieldfare adult male ringed 12.01.2003 at Whetstone Pastures, Cosby
killed by a cat 30.04.2004 Svarstad, Ostfold, NORWAY 59.32N, 09.56E (about 150 km SW of Oslo).
The photograph right is of the actual bird when we ringed it!
Common Sandpiper (below right) ringed tonight in the Soar valley. There is a substantial movement of waders in progress at the moment including all 3 regular sandpiper species. Weather permitting we shall try to make further catches in the coming weeks. Update 20th August 2004 The weather in the last week (as you know) has been awful and our wader site is now flooded and resembles a huge lagoon, making it impossible to mist net. Here's hoping for a dry spell!
Sand Martin session at the Dishley artificial bank colony produced 29 birds. The good news is that most were juveniles (which is a relief given the dreadful wet weather the birds have had to contend with).
Exciting news from member Chris Flint. Two Pied Flycatchers have spent the last couple of days in her garden in the north of the county. One of the birds (a first year) was ringed this afternoon. This is still a rare bird in Leics and very few have ever been ringed. Record shots only to the right.
Nigel & co made another visit to the Sand Martins at Dishley. All of the adult birds caught turned out to be females. Just as last week the cacth included a healthy number of juveniles (see above). One bird carried a Spanish ring (this is the second Spanish bird we have 'controlled'). (Click here to see previous record)
Warblers are fattening up for migration. Blackcap & Whitethroat among species ringed this morning at Wigston sewage farm. Also 2 Stock Dove chicks ringed (yes they are often still breeding this late in the year). The warblers provide a brief masterclass in ageing, visible in the field (if you get close enough and get a good view) first of all notice the bright hazel eye of adult Whitethroat right (top left) compared to the dull brown eye of juvenile (top right). Eye colour is a useful charecter in several species. Secondly, below right first year male Blackcap
(brown tippped feathers to the cap, these are solid black in adult).
