Ringing near Gifford, East Lothian, winter 24/25 (1 Viewer)

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Start of our winter ringing programme. All spring sown wild bird cover (crops grown to provide seed for birds through the winter) is poor this year following a very difficult spring. At our ringing sites bait is provided so hopefully the birds will be OK.

10.10.24 Mist netting at Farm 2, lower site.

Blackbird new 5
retrap 3
Coal tit new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 1
retrap 1
Great tit new
retrap 1
Jay new 1
retrap
Long tailed tit new 1
retrap
Robin new 3
retrap 1
Yellowhammer new 1
retrap
TOTAL new 13
retrap 6


Also seen/heard :
Heron
Pink-footed geese
Greylag
Buzzard
Pheasant
Tawny owl
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Meadow pipit
Wren
Blue tit
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.

 

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13.10.24 - Mist netting at secondary feed station, Farm 1

This is our first winter CES visit of this year, yes it is early. It has seemed our winter CES catches have been impacted by the fortnightly schedule - prior to starting winter CES we ringed every 3-4 weeks at any site, since starting winter CES birds seem to have become much more "net shy" - gathering nearby and waiting for us to pack up rather than coming to feed. We have discussed this with BTO and it may be that this is peculiar to situations like ours, whether due to species mix or habitat - farmland visited rarely by people so birds are more easily disturbed. We have agreed with BTO to run this site to a three weekly schedule rather than two weekly for comparison with our other winter CES mist net site which will continue to be run on a two week schedule. To keep the number of visits up this site's first widow opens on 12th October and the last will close on 28th March. We are aware that "winter" this far north is longer than in the south so this schedule, even if successful here, might not be appropriate nationally.

Blackbird new 2
retrap 1
Blue tit new 1
retrap 3
Chaffinch new 2
retrap 1
Dunnock new 3
retrap 1
Jay new 1
retrap
Robin new 1
retrap
Song Thrush new 1
retrap
Tree sparrow new 12
retrap
Wren new 2
retrap
Yellow-browed warbler new 1
retrap
TOTALS new 26
retrap 6


Also seen/heard :
Greylag geese
Pink-footed goose c.60
Mallard
Buzzard
Pheasant
Grey partridge 4
Herring gull
Barn owl
Woodpigeon
Feral pigeon
Skylark
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Linnet
Yellowhammer

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.

 

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14.10.24 Mist netting at Farm 2, upper site.

Blackbird new 4
retrap
Blackcap new 1
retrap
Blue tit new 2
retrap
Bullfinch new 3
retrap
Chiffchaff new 1
retrap
Coal tit new 2
retrap
Dunnock new 10
retrap 2
Great tit new 3
retrap 1
House sparrow new 5
retrap
Long tailed tit new 8
retrap
Robin new 2
retrap 1
Tree sparrow new 24
retrap 3
Wren new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 1
retrap
TOTAL new 67
retrap 7


Also seen/heard :

Greylag geese
Pink-footed goose
Pheasant
Grey partridge 3
Tawny owl
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Rook
Magpie

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.

 

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29.10.24 Mist netting at Farm 2, lower site.

Blackbird new 4
retrap 2
Blue tit new 2
retrap
Dunnock new 1
retrap 1
Great tit new
retrap 1
Nuthatch new
retrap 1
Robin new
retrap 2
Tree sparrow new 1
retrap
TOTAL new 8
retrap 7


Also seen/heard :
Buzzard
Pheasant
Tawny owl
Woodpigeon
Skylark
Wren
Fieldfare c.13
Redwing
Long-tailed tit
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Jay
Chaffinch
Siskin
Reed bunting

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.

 

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3.11.24 Mist netting at Farm 1, original feed station

Blackbird new 4
retrap
Bullfinch new 1
retrap
Chaffinch new 15
retrap
Dunnock new 3
retrap
Long tailed tit new 1
retrap
Robin new 4
retrap
Tree sparrow new 13
retrap 2
Wren new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 2
retrap
TOTAL new 44
retrap 2


Also seen/heard :
Greylag geese
Pink-footed geese
Buzzard
Kestrel 2
Pheasant
Grey partridge
Golden plover
Tawny owl
Woodpigeon
Herring gull
Skylark
Carrion crow
Rook
Jackdaw
Raven
Magpie
Jay
Great tit
Blue tit

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.

 

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4.11.24 - Mist netting at secondary feed station, Farm 1

Blackbird new 4
retrap 1
Chaffinch new 2
retrap 1
Dunnock new 2
retrap 2
Reed bunting new 1
retrap
Robin new 1
retrap
Tree sparrow new 1
retrap 1
Wren new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 4
retrap
TOTALS new 16
retrap 5


Also seen/heard :
Greylag geese
Pink-footed goose
Mallard
Buzzard
Kestrel
Pheasant
Grey partridge c.10
Herring gull
Tawny owl
Barn owl
Woodpigeon
Feral pigeon
Skylark
Blue tit
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Magpie
Jay
Goldfinch

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.

 

[citrinella]

6.11.24 Mist netting at Farm 2, upper site.

Blackbird new 6
retrap 1
Blue tit new 2
retrap
Coal tit new
retrap 1
Dunnock new 2
retrap 5
House sparrow new 2
retrap
Long tailed tit new 2
retrap
Robin new 2
retrap 3
Tree sparrow new 1
retrap 2
Yellowhammer new
retrap 1
TOTAL new 17
retrap 13


Also seen/heard :

Greylag geese
Buzzard
Pheasant
Herring gull
Tawny owl
Woodpigeon
Wren
Mistle thrush
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Siskin

And Australian magpie ! - um a dog, distorted by distance

Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.