SORBY BRECK RINGING GROUP BLOG FOR 2008

This page includes some interesting items from the groups ringing activities during 2008 (and late 2007), previously included in the login section. They have been put together as a retrospective blog.

NOVEMBER 2008

Black-headed Gulls at Bakewell Sewage Farm

A couple of photos of a Black-headed Gull  - one of four caught at Bakewell on the 30th November by Geoff, Jack Bryn and Paul.  Photos courtesy of Paul Hooper.

A cracking shot of a Short-eared Owl - courtesy of Alan Heeley (03/12/2008)

Some Photos from Ramsley Moor (Pictures courtesy of Norman Crowson)

Short-eared Owl

Little Owl

Fieldfare

Male Sparrowhawk

Just thought I'd share a photo of an adult male Sparrowhawk caught in my garden on Wednesday.

Sean

AUGUST 2008

Tree Pipits (23/08/2008)

On Saturday 23/08/2008, the weather forecast was for virtually no wind, so Kevin and myself decided to have a go at ringing Steve's Meadow Pipit site above Agden, in order to target Tree Pipits.  We arrived early and were rewarded after about half an hour with a promising looking bird.  Although neither of us had ringed a Tree Pipit before, after carefully checking Svennson, the bird was definitely identified as one and aged as a 3 based on a step in the median coverts.  Another bird soon followed, also a juvenile, but still no Meadow Pipits, although a few were flitting around.  A smattering of Willow Warblers and Wrens kept us occupied for the next hour and we ringed two more Tree Pipits, again first year birds, before leaving.  These birds were aged on the tertials (see photos below).  Kevin says that although obviously an excellent site for Tree Pipits, it may do well for Meadow Pipits later in the year, if properly developed!!

Sean

Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit ID - Note the fine streaking on the flanks, and the short (8mm), obviously curved hind claw.  These features separate Tree Pipit from Meadow Pipit.  The other useful ID check is the wing length; the wings of all 4 of the birds we caught were 89 mm, longer than Meadow Pipit wings.

Meadow Pipit hind claw - note the obviously staighter and longer hind claw of the Meadow Pipit, typically ranging between 11 and 14 mm.

Tree Pipit wing. With Tree Pipits, primaries 2, 3 and 4 are all the same length, but 5 is shorter (see above).  Meadow Pipits have primaries 2,3,4 and 5 of equal length (see below for comparison).

Meadow Pipit wing

Note the contrast between the adult warm buff fringed tertials and the unmoulted juvenile tertials with very pale edges.

All the tertials on this bird were of the juvenile type.

This is a photo of the wing of the first bird we caught that was moulting its median coverts.  There was a colour difference between the inner moulted MC and the older outer ones, but it does not show well on the photo.  Although not mentioned by Svennson, the juvenile median coverts have a large 'tooth' reminiscent of those in 1Y Meadow Pipits.  As we did not catch any adult birds, we were unable to make a comparison, but does any one else know if this is a reliable criterion for Tree Pipits?

Hobby Chicks (04/08/2008)

Below is a picture of 3 Hobby chicks.  They were ringed at an undisclosed site by Roy Frost on Saturday (02/08/2008).  Many thanks to Jack for climbing the tree. It is well documented that Woodpigeons nest in the same tree as Hobbies, and sure enough, Jack found a Woodpigeon nest.

JULY 2008

Update on the Sorby Breck Group Ringing Weekend (06/07/2008)

A stunning Yellow Wagtail ringed at Carr vale Nature Reserve on Sunday 6th July.  This is the third Yelwa to be ringed there this year!  Photo courtesy of Eleanor Wilkins.

Photographs of Willow Tit without the white mark on the upper mandible (03/07/2008)

Those of you who have perused this page thoroughly will remember a note on identifying Marsh Tits by the white spot on their upper mandible (see below).  In contrast, Willow Tit seems to lack this white spot, making it a useful additional identification feature.  Any evidence to support or contradict this theory is very welcome.  The photos of the 3J Willow Tits below, showing no white spots, were kindly provided by John Cranfield from a ringing session at Stanford.

JUNE 2008

Grasshopper Warblers at Bondhay (29/06/2008)

This is juvenile Grasshopper Warbler, ringed at Bondhay on Sunday.  Two birds were ringed making that a total of four for the site.  These may not be the last, as there were four singing males to be heard.

3J Grasshopper Warbler, Bondhay, Sunday 29th June 2008 - photo Mark Reeder

Firecrest in the Derwent Valley

Photo courtesy of Richard Dale

MAY 2008

Unusual emargination pattern in Chiffchaff (24/05/2008)

During a ringing session at Blackburn Meadows NR today, we had a Chiffchaff which had unusual emargination on its right wing (see below).  Although the bird had all the characteristics of a Chiffchaff in the hand, the outer webs of the primaries on the right wing showed no emargination, except for P2.  However, an examination of the left wing showed the classic pattern, with the primaries being emarginated to P6.  Has anyone else come across this phenomenon?  It is probable that the tips of the right wing have worn away as they seem less pointed.  If this is the case it is very even wear as they do not appear to have been broken.  The difference between the wing lengths (maximum chord) is only 2mm - right 56 and left 58.

Chiffchaff rightwing showing unusual emargination

Chiffchaff left wing showing the usual emargination pattern

APRIL 2008

Early Birds (30/04/2008)

This picture is of a Mute Swan family (an adult pair and 8 cygnets) taken by Dan near Goole harbour.  The cygnets hatched on the 29th March, which is more than a month earlier than would be expected.  Unfortunately, they were too small to ring! Thanks Dan.

A good 'start' at a new site! (24/04/2008)

This picture of a male Redstart was sent by Paul.  It was ringed on the first visit to a new ringing site on Sunday morning.  Not a bad start!

A plethora of Rooks (14/04/2008)

No this isn’t a new collective noun for Rooks and the numbers involved were hardly a superabundance!  However, two adult Rooks and a juvenile Carrion Crow was a new ringing experience for myself and Kevin.  The ringing was done in my garden, where I regularly have Rooks and Crows feeding, but I didn't know how easy they would be to ring.  Both species were quite placid to handle and remarkably elegant at close quarters. 

Early 2008 and Late 2007

Green Woodpecker

Another nice bird is this juvenile Green Woodpecker ringed at Bondhay.

Photo Eleanor Wilkins

A nice surprise in the garden

Because it was so windy yesterday I nearly didn't bother ringing in the garden, however I'm pleased I did! Within half an hour, I had caught a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I have lived in the house for 25 years and although they are seen occasionally in nearby Graves Park I have never seen one in the garden before. I hope it and it's mate might soon be regular feeders on the seed. By dinner I had caught 25 birds including a jay, goldfinch and bullfinch, although the siskin feeding managed to elude me. Not a bad morning!

Dave

A good year for Brambling

This winter (2007-08) has been a good one for Brambling so far, with good numbers of birds around. This is a photo of a 2Y male Brambling ringed at Whitwell Wood. Singles have now been ringed at Shottle, Derwent, Whitwell and Ramsley. Where next???

Photo courtesy of Eleanor Wilkins

Sparrowhawk

I didn't have time to get out ringing this morning due to the early kick off at Hillsborough. However, a ringing session in the garden was well rewarded by this stunning Sparrowhawk.

Dave

A Great Site (14/11/2007)

Jack and I were not expecting to ring a Great Grey Shrike when we set off this morning. The bird was ringed at a small site in the Derwent Valley that had already produced two Firecrests. The photo was taken on a mobile phone. What a great site/sight !! Geoff

Tawny Owl

Marsh Tits - A Note for ringers

I have included pictures of Marsh Tits showing a white patch on the upper mandible. It is noted by Svensson and reported by Dewolf in Belgium. He considers it reliable for distinguishing Willow Tit which lacks this feature. I have never seen any white on the upper mandible of Willow Tits. Could ringers confirm this please?



Geoff