Last 24 hours

Back at the point of Ayre yesterday thinking there would be some Meadow Pipit movement , not a lot going on at all 2 Meadow Pipits ringed and 3 Lapland Bunting see.

Back home for a tidy up and a cuppa opened 20ft net and ringed another 10 Siskin, Blue Tits, Coal Tits

and Goldfinch 

Siskin Total for garden now in the 70s

Yesterday evening back out with Kev another good 2 hours  with 

2 Dunlin

2 Ringed Plover  1 new 1 retrap from the night before 

1 Turnstone 

1 Oystercatcher 

Dunlin

Bill Length of Dunlin being taken

Turnstone

Thanks again to Kev for another great evening

Today back to woosh some more Linnets 12 New birds ringed 2 retraps form 2 weeks ago

Picture below shows a Linnet with tick attached never come across this on Linnets or Twite before

Linnet with Tick

things went abit quite so i set up a few spring traps and ringed 

1 Robin

1 Stonechat

Stonechat

On way home dropped in at Ramsey Harbour for a look two Wheatears and Rockpipits about so i set the spring traps again

Wheatear

1 Wheatear ringed

Back at the point of Ayre yesterday thinking there would be some Meadow Pipit movement , not a lot going on at all 2 Meadow Pipits ringed and 3 Lapland Bunting see.

Back home for a tidy up and a cuppa opened 20ft net and ringed another 10 Siskin, Blue Tits, Coal Tits

and Goldfinch 

Siskin Total for garden now in the 70s

Yesterday evening back out with Kev another good 2 hours  with 

2 Dunlin

2 Ringed Plover  1 new 1 retrap from the night before 

1 Turnstone 

1 Oystercatcher 

Dunlin

Bill Length of Dunlin being taken

Turnstone

Thanks again to Kev for another great evening

Today back to woosh some more Linnets 12 New birds ringed 2 retraps form 2 weeks ago

Picture below shows a Linnet with tick attached never come across this on Linnets or Twite before

Linnet with Tick

things went abit quite so i set up a few spring traps and ringed 

1 Robin

1 Stonechat

Stonechat

On way home dropped in at Ramsey Harbour for a look two Wheatears and Rockpipits about so i set the spring traps again

Wheatear

1 Wheatear ringed

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Last night

Nice evening out with Kev again last night 

6 Ringed plover ringed 5 juvenile birds 1 Adult 

Nice evening out with Kev again last night 

6 Ringed plover ringed 5 juvenile birds 1 Adult 

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

AUGUST 2010: Notable bird sightings in Extremadura

Selection of records sent to the GOCE forum in August 2010 (by S. Mayordomo). Any other Extremadura sightings should be sent to: seo.caceres@gmail.com. Photographs: Top, White-Rumped Swift (Apus caffer), Guijo de Santa Bárbara, by Jesús Calle. Bottom, Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Galisteo, by Javier Prieta.

-Greylag Goose: one apparently wild bird in Casas de Hitos pond on 24/08/10 (Joaquín García).
-Purple Swamphen: One bird in Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo, on 08/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo). Second sighting in the River Alagón catchment area.
-Garganey: One drake in Galisteo Lake from 5 to 8/08/10 (Javier Prieta, Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo). One female in Charco Salado, Casatejada, on 18/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Lesser Kestrel: A count of 524 birds in a La Vera roost on 24/08/10 (Javier Prieta).
-Black Stork: A bird ringed in the Czech republic was observed on 28/08/10 in Oliva de Plasencia; this same bird wintered in this area in 2008/2009 (José Luis Rivero).
-Spoonbill: 33 birds in Ancho pond, Arroyo de la Luz, on 22/08/10 (Carlos Fernández). In Charco Salado, Casatejada, 78 birds on 18/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo) and 57 on 25/08/10 (Manuel García del Rey); all-time highs for this site.
-Great White Egret: Confirmed breeding of a pair in Arrocampo reservoir (Javier Prieta, Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo). First breeding record in Extremadura.
-Crane: One oversummering bird in Oliva de Plasencia at least until 28/08/10 (Juan Carlos Paniagua, Ricardo Montero, Eva Palacios and José Luis Rivero).
-Peregrine Falcon: One pair with two young, maybe three, in Monesterio, Badajoz, on 02/08/10 (Alberto Pacheco). Could be the first recent breeding record in the whole western Sierra Morena.
-Glossy Ibis: One bird in meadows near Azud del Guadiana in Badajoz on 22/08/10 and 27/08/10 (Atanasio Fernández).
-Common Waxbill: First records in Galisteo: 6 birds in the ricefield and two in the lagoon on 22/08/10 (Manuel García del Rey and Sergio Mayordomo).
-White-Rumped Swift: Two birds flying repeatedly into the eaves of a house in Guijo de Santa Bárbara on 07/08/10 (Jesús Calle). First record in La Vera and in a built-up area.
- Black-Necked Grebe: One bird in Fresnedillas pond, Oliva de Plasencia, on 23/08/10 (Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo).
-Curlew: One in Galisteo Lake on 22/08/10 (Manuel García del Rey and Sergio Mayordomo) and 26/08/10 (Javier Gayo).
-Whimbrel: One in Portaje reservoir on 03/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Olivaceous Warbler: 2 birds in Puente Viejo, Badajoz, on 30/08/10 (Juan Carlos Paniagua).


First Post-Breeding Records
-Hobby: One at Galisteo Lake on 26/08/10 (Javier Gayo) and another at Casas de Hitos on 27/08/10 (Martin Kelsey).
-Pintail: Two eclipse drakes on 09/08/10 in Charco Salado, Casatejada (Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo).
-Sedge Warbler: One on 08/08/10 in Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Redstart: Two immature males on 20/08/10 in Cornalvo, Badajoz (José Ledo).
-Wheatear: One on 28/08/10 in Casar de Cáceres (Sergio Mayordomo) and another in Galisteo on 31/08/10 (Javier Prieta).
-Little Stint: One on 12/08/10 in Casas de Hitos (Martin Kelsey).
-Curlew Sandpiper: One adult on 27/08/10 in Talaván reservoir (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Garden Warbler: One on 20/08/10 in Monfragüe (Sergio Mayordomo)
-Whitethroat: One on 06/08/10 in Ahigal (Sergio Mayordomo) and two in Casas de Hitos on 12/08/10 (Martin Kelsey).
-Willow Warbler: Two on 01/08/10 in Arroyo de la Luz (Florencio Carrero) and one in Monesterio on 03/08/10 (Alberto Pacheco).
-Pied Flycatcher: On 16/08/10 one bird was seen in Plasencia (Javier Prieta) and another in Jerte (Blas Molina).
-Pochard: One immature on 02/08/10 in Charco Salado, Casatejada (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Whinchat: One on 20/08/10 at Talaván reservoir and another in Calzadilla on 21/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo).

Selection of records sent to the GOCE forum in August 2010 (by S. Mayordomo). Any other Extremadura sightings should be sent to: seo.caceres@gmail.com. Photographs: Top, White-Rumped Swift (Apus caffer), Guijo de Santa Bárbara, by Jesús Calle. Bottom, Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Galisteo, by Javier Prieta.

-Greylag Goose: one apparently wild bird in Casas de Hitos pond on 24/08/10 (Joaquín García).
-Purple Swamphen: One bird in Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo, on 08/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo). Second sighting in the River Alagón catchment area.
-Garganey: One drake in Galisteo Lake from 5 to 8/08/10 (Javier Prieta, Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo). One female in Charco Salado, Casatejada, on 18/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Lesser Kestrel: A count of 524 birds in a La Vera roost on 24/08/10 (Javier Prieta).
-Black Stork: A bird ringed in the Czech republic was observed on 28/08/10 in Oliva de Plasencia; this same bird wintered in this area in 2008/2009 (José Luis Rivero).
-Spoonbill: 33 birds in Ancho pond, Arroyo de la Luz, on 22/08/10 (Carlos Fernández). In Charco Salado, Casatejada, 78 birds on 18/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo) and 57 on 25/08/10 (Manuel García del Rey); all-time highs for this site.
-Great White Egret: Confirmed breeding of a pair in Arrocampo reservoir (Javier Prieta, Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo). First breeding record in Extremadura.
-Crane: One oversummering bird in Oliva de Plasencia at least until 28/08/10 (Juan Carlos Paniagua, Ricardo Montero, Eva Palacios and José Luis Rivero).
-Peregrine Falcon: One pair with two young, maybe three, in Monesterio, Badajoz, on 02/08/10 (Alberto Pacheco). Could be the first recent breeding record in the whole western Sierra Morena.
-Glossy Ibis: One bird in meadows near Azud del Guadiana in Badajoz on 22/08/10 and 27/08/10 (Atanasio Fernández).
-Common Waxbill: First records in Galisteo: 6 birds in the ricefield and two in the lagoon on 22/08/10 (Manuel García del Rey and Sergio Mayordomo).
-White-Rumped Swift: Two birds flying repeatedly into the eaves of a house in Guijo de Santa Bárbara on 07/08/10 (Jesús Calle). First record in La Vera and in a built-up area.
- Black-Necked Grebe: One bird in Fresnedillas pond, Oliva de Plasencia, on 23/08/10 (Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo).
-Curlew: One in Galisteo Lake on 22/08/10 (Manuel García del Rey and Sergio Mayordomo) and 26/08/10 (Javier Gayo).
-Whimbrel: One in Portaje reservoir on 03/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Olivaceous Warbler: 2 birds in Puente Viejo, Badajoz, on 30/08/10 (Juan Carlos Paniagua).


First Post-Breeding Records
-Hobby: One at Galisteo Lake on 26/08/10 (Javier Gayo) and another at Casas de Hitos on 27/08/10 (Martin Kelsey).
-Pintail: Two eclipse drakes on 09/08/10 in Charco Salado, Casatejada (Eva Palacios and Sergio Mayordomo).
-Sedge Warbler: One on 08/08/10 in Valdefuentes gravel pit, Galisteo (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Redstart: Two immature males on 20/08/10 in Cornalvo, Badajoz (José Ledo).
-Wheatear: One on 28/08/10 in Casar de Cáceres (Sergio Mayordomo) and another in Galisteo on 31/08/10 (Javier Prieta).
-Little Stint: One on 12/08/10 in Casas de Hitos (Martin Kelsey).
-Curlew Sandpiper: One adult on 27/08/10 in Talaván reservoir (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Garden Warbler: One on 20/08/10 in Monfragüe (Sergio Mayordomo)
-Whitethroat: One on 06/08/10 in Ahigal (Sergio Mayordomo) and two in Casas de Hitos on 12/08/10 (Martin Kelsey).
-Willow Warbler: Two on 01/08/10 in Arroyo de la Luz (Florencio Carrero) and one in Monesterio on 03/08/10 (Alberto Pacheco).
-Pied Flycatcher: On 16/08/10 one bird was seen in Plasencia (Javier Prieta) and another in Jerte (Blas Molina).
-Pochard: One immature on 02/08/10 in Charco Salado, Casatejada (Sergio Mayordomo).
-Whinchat: One on 20/08/10 at Talaván reservoir and another in Calzadilla on 21/08/10 (Sergio Mayordomo).

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Linnets

I was out with Adam from Manx Bird life this morning catching Linnets.

33 new linnets ringed with 1 Retrap

169 Linnets Ringed todate

148 young birds

11 Adults Males

10 Adult Females

90 Females in total

79 Males in total

I was out with Adam from Manx Bird life this morning catching Linnets.

33 new linnets ringed with 1 Retrap

169 Linnets Ringed todate

148 young birds

11 Adults Males

10 Adult Females

90 Females in total

79 Males in total

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

House Martin

I was out again yesterday with another 

35 birds ringed

13 Meadow Pipits 

11 Linnets

8 Swallows

1 House Martin

1 Sand Martin
1 Starling

House Martin

I was out again yesterday with another 

35 birds ringed

13 Meadow Pipits 

11 Linnets

8 Swallows

1 House Martin

1 Sand Martin
1 Starling

House Martin

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

1 Sep 10, Osprey - from the office!

I'd long predicted seeing a Red Kite over my workplace at The John Innes Centre and when I first saw a large raptor circling from my office window I thought today was the day. The bird was back-on and could just make out the dark back and slightly downward-flexed wings. I was expecting the bird to circle round and reveal a long forked tail and white wing patches, but when it did turn I was momentarily flummoxed. Instead of red-brown underparts with a big white wing patches, I was confronted with a short-tailed bird with black and white underparts, with a large black carpel patch. "Oh my God! Osprey! Osprey! Look up here - it's a fuckin' Osprey!!!" was my reaction to my somewhat bemused office mates. I grabbed my bins and watched the bird as it soared around, gaining height on a thermal. I rushed round to a the office of a work college who I knew was interested in birds, but by the time we returned to see the bird it had drifted off west.
This now brings my work list to 81. BUBO Work list

I'd long predicted seeing a Red Kite over my workplace at The John Innes Centre and when I first saw a large raptor circling from my office window I thought today was the day. The bird was back-on and could just make out the dark back and slightly downward-flexed wings. I was expecting the bird to circle round and reveal a long forked tail and white wing patches, but when it did turn I was momentarily flummoxed. Instead of red-brown underparts with a big white wing patches, I was confronted with a short-tailed bird with black and white underparts, with a large black carpel patch. "Oh my God! Osprey! Osprey! Look up here - it's a fuckin' Osprey!!!" was my reaction to my somewhat bemused office mates. I grabbed my bins and watched the bird as it soared around, gaining height on a thermal. I rushed round to a the office of a work college who I knew was interested in birds, but by the time we returned to see the bird it had drifted off west.
This now brings my work list to 81. BUBO Work list

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

30 Aug 10 - A windy Bank Holiday Monday

Even a 5 a.m. rise wasn't early enough to earn me a spot in the fully-occupied Sheringham seawatching shelter, so at 5.50 a.m I found myself sheltering behind a small wall at the far western end of Sheringham promenade with my scope trained on the 'busiest' area of sea. The seawatching started off quite well, with plenty of skuas, mainly Arctic and Great but also a single Pom. I got onto a possible adult Long-tailed Skua, which promptly disappeared behind a trough, never to emerge from the other end of it. The rush of shearwaters that others had witnessed the day before wasn't apparent this morning. I saw only two shearwaters - one Sooty and one Manx, both heading west, into the wind. There were lost of waterfowl heading west too. A few hundred Common Teal and lots of Common Scoter, along with a few Pintail and a single Greater Scaup. A few Arctic Terns also added to a bit of diversity.

After watching the sea for 4 hours, I headed off to Muckleburgh Hill as it was about the only sheltered spot that might have been harbouring some migrants. A Spotted Flycatcher was nice to see, and the large flock of Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits occupied about an hour of my time.

One of many Chiffchaffs at Muckleburgh Hill.

I then headed off to Cley where I was first on the scene of a juvenile Red-backed Shrike that had just been found at Walsey Hills.

After that I spent the rest of the afternoon on Cley reserve in Dauke's hide, photographing waders and waterfowl. Gargany  Some of my efforts are below.

Juvenile Ruff, Cley.

Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile, Cley.

Spotted Redshank, adult winter, Cley.

Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile in flight with Dunlin.

Curlew Sandpiper, juveniles in flight with Dunlin.

Common Snipe, Cley.

Curlew Sandpiper, juveniles with Dunlin.

Garganey, female.

Garganey, female.

Garganey, female.

Even a 5 a.m. rise wasn't early enough to earn me a spot in the fully-occupied Sheringham seawatching shelter, so at 5.50 a.m I found myself sheltering behind a small wall at the far western end of Sheringham promenade with my scope trained on the 'busiest' area of sea. The seawatching started off quite well, with plenty of skuas, mainly Arctic and Great but also a single Pom. I got onto a possible adult Long-tailed Skua, which promptly disappeared behind a trough, never to emerge from the other end of it. The rush of shearwaters that others had witnessed the day before wasn't apparent this morning. I saw only two shearwaters - one Sooty and one Manx, both heading west, into the wind. There were lost of waterfowl heading west too. A few hundred Common Teal and lots of Common Scoter, along with a few Pintail and a single Greater Scaup. A few Arctic Terns also added to a bit of diversity.

After watching the sea for 4 hours, I headed off to Muckleburgh Hill as it was about the only sheltered spot that might have been harbouring some migrants. A Spotted Flycatcher was nice to see, and the large flock of Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits occupied about an hour of my time.

One of many Chiffchaffs at Muckleburgh Hill.

I then headed off to Cley where I was first on the scene of a juvenile Red-backed Shrike that had just been found at Walsey Hills.

After that I spent the rest of the afternoon on Cley reserve in Dauke's hide, photographing waders and waterfowl. Gargany  Some of my efforts are below.

Juvenile Ruff, Cley.

Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile, Cley.

Spotted Redshank, adult winter, Cley.

Curlew Sandpiper, juvenile in flight with Dunlin.

Curlew Sandpiper, juveniles in flight with Dunlin.

Common Snipe, Cley.

Curlew Sandpiper, juveniles with Dunlin.

Garganey, female.

Garganey, female.

Garganey, female.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad