The filter beds at Wigston Sewage works become a 'takeaway' for breeding birds at this time of the year. There is a constant procession of Wagtails (all 3 UK species), finches, buntings, tits etc in search of insects for their young. Several species ringed there today included Yellow & Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Starling and Chaffinch. A spanking male Yellow Wagtail ringed this evening is shown below left compared to the much paler female which has grey ear coverts and crown and whitish supercillium 'eyebrow' (right).
Mid summer is often very quiet but we have still been working away at a fairly low level to add to the data. Despite some horrendous flash floods Little Ringed Plover chicks have survived and we have managed to ring seven from three broods (one pictured right). They are incredibly difficult to spot once they 'freeze' on the ground and great care needs to be taken not to stay too long, to be vigilant about where one is standing and to respond immediately when the opportunity presents. For these reasons a single ringer tends to work alone. Ringing of small wader chicks is never done in wet weather and until they reach some size they need to be brooded by the adults as they are not able to generate enough body heat in their own right. The characteristic yellow 'eye ring' is already clearly visible even at this age.
Dave Bradley has ringed approaching 150 birds at Swithland and Andy Smith has managed to add to the House Martin numbers by ringing low flying adults at Thornton.
In recent weeks hightlights have included 9 Common Tern chicks ringed at Watermead and more Reed Warblers (including young birds) at Wanlip South reedbed where a juvenile Green Woodpecker was also ringed (above right). I have just been to Scotland for The Open but also to do some ringing so please forgive one indulgent shot of a bird the group will probably never ring, a Storm Petrel (one of many ringed at Fife Ness last Friday). Tiny oceanic birds with webbed feet, despite contending with some atrocious conditions out at sea these are incredibly tough. Ringing has identified one bird which lived AT LEAST 31years and 11months!
Mist netting at Swithland Reservoir early this morning produced a healthy number of birds from just a few nets. The species range with a good proportion of young birds was particularly encouraging. Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat (below left), Wren, Robin and a rarely seen beastie ... a Bullfinch still in complete juvenile plumage (below right) with lots of food stains round it's beak! This was followed up by a brood of 4 Swallow chicks ringed at Whetstone.
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