Saturday 5th May 2012
A predictably slower morning than the previous with only 8 birds ringed, a Reed Warbler being the highlight. Star of the show was a Wryneck out on the reserve which was seen by a good few. Few birds moving this morning with 4 Cormorant, 2 Whimbrel, 32 Common Tern, 4 Swift and 5 Swallow heading North, 3 Jackdaw went South. A few other birds were around including the first Turtle Dove of the year, White Wagtail, A fly through Hobby, Yellow Wagtail and a pair of Redstarts.
Friday 4th May 2012
Another good warbler day with the majority of the 57 birds ringed being of that persuasion. Another Serin was heard early on up near the custom house along with a Black Redstart. Out and about the 24 Wheatears were accompanied by a Whinchat, male and female Redstart, a House Martin and a male Pied Flycatcher. On the move North were 9 Whimbrel, 23 Common Tern, 2 Little Tern, 4 Turnstone and 6 Swift. Southbound were 8 Swallow, a Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer, 6 Common Scoter and Redpoll.
Ringing scores: Whitethroat 13, Blackcap 12, Willow Warbler 10, Wheater 6, Linnet 3, Garden Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 2, 1 Robin, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Redstart and 1 Swallow.
Ringing scores: Whitethroat 13, Blackcap 12, Willow Warbler 10, Wheater 6, Linnet 3, Garden Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 2, 1 Robin, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Redstart and 1 Swallow.
Thursday 3rd May 2012
Nearly all of yesterdays warblers appeared to have moved on with only 1 retrap all morning. A new smaller dose were in with 7 Blackcap (c15 on site), 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat (c5 on site) ringed. Apart from a Great-crested Grebe Heading South a mixed bunch were observed heading North, including: 1 Cormorant, 3 Knot, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel, 3 Little Tern (first for the year), 46 Common Tern and 2 Arctic Terns. Out and about on the reserve the Whinchat ringed a few days back remained, along with a Yellow Wagtail, at least 20 Wheatear and a fine summer plumage Purple Sandpiper on the point.
The ringing totals for the day were boosted by a trail run of our new spring traps, supporting the existing ones they definitely got the seal of approval as 14 Wheatear were ringed. This beats the previous day record of 13, and pushes the total ringed this spring to 101, also surpassing the largest year total for this species by 1!
The ringing totals for the day were boosted by a trail run of our new spring traps, supporting the existing ones they definitely got the seal of approval as 14 Wheatear were ringed. This beats the previous day record of 13, and pushes the total ringed this spring to 101, also surpassing the largest year total for this species by 1!
Wednesday 2nd May 2012
A busy day today with a good number of birds having appeared overnight, as of 6pm 65 birds have been ringed. A few other birds of interest were hanging around the reserve too including 4Yellow Wagtail, 3 Tree Pipit, A Cuckoo, a Hobby, Nightingale, 2 Whinchat, 2 Redstart and a White Wagtail. Moving South were 4 Common Scoter, 7 Oyks, 1 Greylag, 3 Shelduck, 1 Barwit, 12 Whimbrel, 2 Common Tern, 8 Swift, 18 Black-headed Gull, 4 Jackdaw, 3 Rook, 2 Carrion Crow, 29 Goldfinch and at least 90 Swallows. A few Swifts, a House Martin, 6 Whimbrel, a Little Egret and 16 Common Tern headed North.
Ringing totals: Blackcap 23, Willow Warbler 15, Whitethroat 9, Chiffchaff 7, Lesser Whitethroat 6, Garden Warbler 2, Sedge warbler 1, Bluetit 1, Redstart 1.
Ringing totals: Blackcap 23, Willow Warbler 15, Whitethroat 9, Chiffchaff 7, Lesser Whitethroat 6, Garden Warbler 2, Sedge warbler 1, Bluetit 1, Redstart 1.
Tuesday 1st May 2012
More rain early this morning but actually turning quite warm in the afternoon. Reduced netting time still paid off with a female Pied Flycatcher, along with yesterdays Redstart, a Wren and a Blackcap. A few birds had obviously appeared at some point overnight/during the day as the first Sedge Warbler and Garden Warbler were amongst the usual suspects out on the reserve, including a Nightingale still at the mine station. Later in the day a Hobby and Ring Ouzel were also seen. A few birds were moving offshore, including a handful of Common Tern, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Fulmar, whilst Yellow Wagtail, Siskin and Redpoll all passed overhead. 3 More Wheatears and a Willow Warbler were added to the ringing totals in the evening.
April 2012 Ringing Totals
April totals amounted to 335 birds of 29 species. This being low on average if the substantial amount of extra effort for Wheatears are removed from the tally. Highlights of the month have to include the 6 Ring Ouzels on one day and the very early spotted flycatcher on the 29th. Top 3 Species were Wheatear, Blackcap and Chiffchaff, with Willow Warbler not far behind. Full breakdown below.
| Wheatear | 84 | Collard Dove | 2 | |
| Blackcap | 63 | Firecrest | 1 | |
| Chiffchaff | 59 | Great tit | 1 | |
| Willow Warbler | 45 | Blue Tit | 1 | |
| Linnet | 13 | Goldfinch | 1 | |
| Song Thrush | 12 | Meadow Pipit | 1 | |
| Robin | 11 | Stonechat | 1 | |
| Blackbird | 9 | Whinchat | 1 | |
| Ring Ouzel | 6 | Lesser Whitethroat | 1 | |
| Wood Pigeon | 5 | Whitethroat | 1 | |
| Wren | 3 | Spotted Flycacther | 1 | |
| Greenfinch | 3 | Redstart | 1 | |
| House sparrow | 3 | Lesser Redpoll | 1 | |
| Black Redstart | 2 | Redwing | 1 | |
| Chaffinch | 2 |
Monday 30th April 2012
Quite an interesting end to the month on the bird front with a few nice odds and ends being seen. Highlights included a Serin early on, a Hobby sitting on the beach, a Cuckoo late afternoon, and 3 tern species offshore, Common, Sandwich and Arctic. Also offshore with the terns were: 1 Bonxie, 2 Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a single Med Gull. Wheatear numbers were up to at least 32, with 5 Whinchat also being seen. A Nightingale was singing in the bushes towards the cottage, Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail passed through and yesterdays male Redstart was caught again.
The last day of the month followed suit on the Moth front with a very poor turnout. In April a mere 90 moths of 16 species were trapped. Considering this is from 3 traps over 30 nights it shows what a pathetic month for moths April has been.
Ringing amounted to 23 Birds: 11 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 House Sparrow and a Lesser Redpoll.
The last day of the month followed suit on the Moth front with a very poor turnout. In April a mere 90 moths of 16 species were trapped. Considering this is from 3 traps over 30 nights it shows what a pathetic month for moths April has been.
Ringing amounted to 23 Birds: 11 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 House Sparrow and a Lesser Redpoll.
Sunday 29th April 2012
Spot Fly was totally unexpected considering the weather is distinctly not nice blowing a cold north-easterly gale & rain. This is our earliest ever record of this species. An adult pale phase Pom Skua lingering off the point for about 10 mins from 0750hrs was a bit of a stunner. Despite prolonged seawatching the only other birds noted offshore were 6 Shoveler, 3 Barwits, 2 Swifts & a Swallow north plus some Cormorants coming & going. We can hear 2 Lesser Throats singing occasionally & there are at least half a dozen Wheatears out there - there maybe more out there skulking away.
Evening UPDATE: Some extra effort in the evening once the bad weather had shifted boosted the ringing totals by 7 Wheatears, a Whinchat, a Song Thrush, a Redstart and a Willow Warbler. A Brambling and Pied Flycatcher were also feeding in the compound but managed to avoid the nets. The Wheatear count was boosted to a minimum of 19 individuals.
Evening UPDATE: Some extra effort in the evening once the bad weather had shifted boosted the ringing totals by 7 Wheatears, a Whinchat, a Song Thrush, a Redstart and a Willow Warbler. A Brambling and Pied Flycatcher were also feeding in the compound but managed to avoid the nets. The Wheatear count was boosted to a minimum of 19 individuals.
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