Whiteholme reservoir

Went up to Whiteholme this morning , to check on Twite it was to wet to set up nets so i did a spot of watching, i had up to 15 at one stage on the feeding station . Also 11 Dunlin on the shore with 1 Sanderling. As i went back the rain stopped and i thought i would try for Common Sandpiper so i set up some spring traps. And with in the hour i had ringed one. As always they seem so small in the hand compared to when i have taken photos of them.

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A Busy Start

A busy start to the Nest Box season with Pete and Andy out checking nearly all the boxes in the wharfedale area, and it looks like its going to be a good year with Tawny boxes nearly all in use. Also the Goosander Pete let me ring 2 years ago has returned to her Tree some 20 ft up and is on 13 eggs. check out link from 2 years ago.

http://training-to-ring-birds.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html

We have Kestrels in Tawny Owl boxes and Tawny Owl in Kestrel Boxes??

Also more Linnets ringed at Ringstone edge reservoir today bringing the total so far to 73 new birds and 1 control.

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Barn Owls

Pete and Andy were out checking Boxes last night and had a male Barn Owl in one of them which was ringed as a chick by the south Notts RG in 2007. it was ringed SE of Nottingham .

Distance of 157km .Fantastic.

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Twite

Ringstone edge yesterday. a good morning with two more Twite ringed and another 10 Linnets plus Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Gt Tits.

other birds about,

Willow Warbler

Redshank

Golden Plover

Lapwing

Curlew

Grey Herons

LBB Gull

Deer Hill Today saw the return of the Suffolk Twite that Andy and i controlled last August back again, another winter survived.

16 Twite with 7 new birds ringed , 1 Suffolk control and 8 retraps from august last year.

ooh and a LINNET.

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Black Lark

What a perfect end to the weekend! Saturday finished well with Stoke City's win over Bristol City, to go 3 points clear, but Sunday ended with a Black Lark at Winterton Dunes. It was singing some of the time, a bit like a Skylark but without the flutty bits.
Took a few photos of the birds and birders:

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Week ends with a bonus

A very mixed week with hours spent at Deer Hill on Wednesday with only 3 Twite seen and none on feeding station. Friday i spent at Elland Gravel Pits with 3 more Chiffchaff ringed and that was it no sign of Whitethroats or Garden Warblers yet. Saturday didnt bother as wind was so bad decided to go see the White-fronted Goose at Lumbutts. Today went to ringstone edge to get me a few more Linnets before they all move on to breeding grounds. And would you believe it a flock of 20+ Twite turned up with them . A good end to a slow week with 10 Twite 6 new birds and 4 controls 3 from Deer Hill 1 from Lighthazzels{whiteholme}. Also Greenfinches Goldfinches and more Linnets . 46 Linnets Ringed so Far at Ringstone edge reservoir and 1 Control.

Twite at Ringstone edge

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Elland Gravel Pits

Decided to take a look at EGP this morning, more of a recce to find out where are some good net rides. A lot of work has taken place new paths and such. I set 1 30 ft net just past the river bridge at 7:30 and ringed 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler. By 0930 nothing else had happened so i packed up and headed to Ringstone.

7 More Linnets Ringed and a Control RING NUMBER T525060 .

Also 5 Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch.

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More Linnets

Up to Ringstone edge for 8:00. There was a flock of 30+ Linnets coming into nyger so i set up . 7 New Linnets ringed plus Goldfinches and a Greenfinch. After i had packed up i set up the camera and took some shots of the linnets still coming into feed.

31 Linnets Ringed so far at ringstone edge.

other birds about, 230 Golden Plover East Field

2 Oystercatchers

8 Mallard

2 Reed Buntings

LRP Heard

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A busy Week

This afternoon saw the end of a busy week with me going to Chorlton water park to ring some more Herons with Steve Christmas . 4 more Herons ringed plus 2 Cananda Geese and a massive Male Mute Swan. Thanks to Steve for inviting me. Also this week has seen over 45 Twite processed in the Pennines and over 20 Linnets and 24 Goldfinch ringed at Ringstone edge reservoir not forgetting 1 male Reed Bunting.

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12 April 08 - North Norfolk

Spent over an hour this morning looking for the Cattle Egret at Stiffkey. It's got to be the most elusive Cattle Egret I've ever come across (or technically, not come across, as I didn't see it). Wandering around in a field of cattle is too good for this bird, which insists on skulking in willows and ditches, only showing (badly) a few times a day.
The day was rescued by a lovely adult Great Grey Shrike at Great Walsingham, which I had to myself for about 20 minutes in the afternoon.

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Leathley

Up early and off to pick Andy up. We set up across the River Washburn hoping for Dipper and Kingfisher, and that's just what we got 1 Dipper 1 Kingfisher.

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Twite sites

The Last two mornings i have spent at our two ringing sites for Twite. Flyflats and Deer Hill. Wednesday morning i set up at Flyflats and had 20 Twite coming into seed . The only problem was the seed they were coming into wasn't where the woosh net was . The wind over the last few weeks has blown the seed all over the shop , they were feeding 10 ft from the net on the smallest bit of seed . I think they have sussed me out. 4 Twite caught 3 new birds 1 retrap.

Deer Hill this morning was a different tale 40 birds caught 24 new birds and retraps from Cant Clough, Lighthazzels, and a control from Walberswick, Suffolk an individually ringed bird with a light green ring over metal on its right leg.

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Tree Sarrow info

The Tree Sparrow i controlled on Sunday was ringed as a nestling at Anglers Country Park , Wakefield, SE3715 on 5.5.2007. A distance of 15 miles in a straight line. Interesting to think that a young bird from Wakefield has joined the small colony at Clifton.

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Hong Kong Trip

Hong Kong - 24 Mar - 3 Apr 08

I've been off to Hong Kong for the Easter break. Here are some photos from my stay.
Mai Po 31 Mar

Osprey



Nordmann's Greenshank (front) with Common Greenshank



Mainly Greater Sand Plovers and Curlew Sandpipers.



Saunder's Gulls - 1st summer, left and adult, right of the foremost 3 Gull-billed Terns.




Grey-headed Lapwing



Avocets



Black-faced Spoonbills, mutual preening.


Tai Mo Shan

Upland Pipit photos:









Yellow-crested Cockatoo photos:

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