Three excellent roost sessions at Charnwood Lodge through October has resulted in around 200 birds. Yesterday a good selection including yet more Song Thrush confirming the species good showing here. All were of the UK race. Odd Redwing but few Chaffinch even though the finch and bunting flock feeding in nearby stubble already exceeds 100 birds and includes at least 5 Brambling and a good few Yellowhammer. We continued to colour ring those Chaffinch caught so if you see any please note details, especially the combination and report here [email protected]. One very interesting pair of birds ringed were an adult and young (this years) Treecreeper. We tested out up to date ageing criteria and these show well on the images below. Left to right are 1. first year with bold bright supercillium (eyebrow) [above] and then 2. adult with rather indistinct supercillium [below] and finally 3. a combined image of the two side by side showing 1st year on the left with well marked primary coverts and adult with tiny 'spots' only on the very tips of the coverts. We have been reticent to age Treecreepers but we will now look to check this method especially where we can retrap birds of known age.
I went back to Charnwood Lodge today to photograph (right) one of the biggest specimens of Fly agaric I have ever seen (almost 250mm or 10 inches across). We found it on Saturday. BE CAREFUL! Fly agaric is very poisonous. It can cause hallucinations, violent stomach upsets, uncontrollable muscle spasms and could even kill you. This toadstool was used to kill flies � hence its name. Small pieces of the fungi would be added to a saucer of milk and flies that fed on the milk were poisoned to death. By the way:- the name �toadstool� may sound quaint, but actually comes from the German name for fungi �tod-stuhl�, literally �seat of death�! All toadstools are of course edible, it's just that some are edible only once!!!
A good session at Charnwood Lodge today with a total of 76 birds caught. Large numbers of thrushes were present including many more Redwing and Fieldfare compared to last week. There were at least four Tawny Owls around but one found in a mist net sadly escaped before being secured. Several Nuthatch were ringed including this 1st year male (aged on moult limit in marginal coverts. The red-oxide coloured flank feathers (below) are diagnostic of a male.
Roost ringing continued at Charnwood Lodge with 59 birds. Thrushes were well represented with 10 Blackbirds and 4 Redwing but surprisingly no Song Thrush. A Jay was amongst those caught and ringed.
The excellent run of Redwings continues (far right). Last Saturday we ringed 16 and this another 8. A total of 62 birds were ringed last week and 58 today. The totals included female Brambling on the 2nd and a 'continental' Song Thrush today (right). The incredible contrast of the grey rump and upper tail with the warm brown wings and back shows well in the photograph.
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