June 2012 Ringing Totals

A distinct lack of juvenile bird during the month led to the lowest ringing totals for this month since 1991 (140). A total of 169 birds of 27 species were ringed. Top spot being taken by Dunnock at 22 birds. Considering the number of Linnets presumably breeding on the reserve a total of only 20 new birds suggests a poor breeding season so far. Whilst the unsettled weather of the last few months may have brought us some nice vagrants and scarcities it may have had a negative impact on the breeding success of our resident species.    Hopefully next month things will pick up on the baby bird front.

Dunnock	22		Chiffchaff	3
Linnet	20		Robin	3
Starling	18		Whitethroat	3
Great Tit	13		Coal Tit	2
Greenfinch	13		Goldfinch	2
Blackcap	12		Magpie	2
Wren	8		Collared Dove	2
Wood Pigeon	7		Swallow	1
Lesser Whitethroat	6		Blue Tit	2
House Sparrow	6		Song Thrush	1
Reed Warbler	6		Ringed Plover	1
Blackbird	5		Cuckoo	1
Spotted Flycatcher	5		Garden Warbler	1
Chaffinch	4
			Total	169

Saturday 30th June 2012

Another windy morning producing only 1 juvenile Blue Tit for the ringing totals. Around 50 each of Curlew and Swift headed South along with a handful of Gannets, Bar-tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel and a Grey Plover. The Serin was again heard just outside the compound around 9am. Both pairs of Ring Plover still had young, although the newly hatched bunch were not all seen. The group visiting for Moth morning had a few nice specimens to look at, despite the blustery weather overnight, a dark form of Peppered Moth was a good record.

Friday 29th June 2012

SSW gale. On the move going south 62 Swifts, 44 Curlew, 8 Dunlin, 5 Barwits, 4 Tufteds, 3 Blackwits & a Shelduck. The Blackwits are notable for us as despite large numbers close by up the rivers we very rarely see any here. It would seem that Blackwits migrate at night & are very good at this migration malarky and don't get caught out coming past places like this. Apart from this it's baby bird time. The large Ringo chick is now 28 days old & should hopefully fledge next week. The other pair of Ringos have at least 3 tiny chicks two days old. Also on site today an additional two Ringos - in some previous years failed breeders from elsewhere have turned up here for a late nesting attempt. Hobby put in an appearance again this morning & to finish i will mention that several adult Med Gulls are back loitering around the View Point car park having presumably failed in this years nesting attempt (as far as we are aware the local wintering birds breed in colonies in the low countries & Germany).

Thursday 28th June 2012

More juveniles appearing today with a pair of Swallows feeding 4 young and the first confirmation of Blackcap breeding on site with at least 2 newly fledged individuals in the bushes. The warm night again boosted moth numbers in the traps with many firsts for the year appearing, including Lime Hawk.

Wednesday 27th June 2012

Very quiet bird wise this morning, a trickle of Curlews and Swifts, and the seemingly daily Cuckoo out on the beach. Our second Ringed Plover pair have hatched their young since yesterday and the large chick from the first brood is still with us. A muggy calm night produced some more new moths for the year including Riband Wave, Buff Arches and the nationally scarce L-album Wainscot.

Tuesday 26th June 2012

Almost a summers day today with warm SE winds and bright sunshine most of the morning. A Red-breasted Goose early on was a surprise, though presumably this is an escaped bird. The Serin was again seen , along with another Cuckoo, Peregrine, 7 Common Tern and nearly 50 Curlew. In the ringing department a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat was presumably from the pair at the top end of the reserve, and a couple more Chaffinches from the local brood made an appearance. A few more new moths for the year in the warmer conditions including Dark Arches and Nutmeg. The first Summer Chafers also seem to have emerged overnight with one in the traps and one on the wing.

Monday 25th June 2012

The female Serin made an appearance again today, presumably the same long staying bird. How it manages to disappear for such long periods remains a mystery. Two Peregrines graced the docks cranes once more and both Hobby and Kestrel were seen on the reserve. More baby birds on the ringing front, including Starling, Greenfinch and Chaffinch, an Adult female Blackcap is likely to be a wandering failed breeder. The Stinking Goosefoot is starting to sprout up near the butts and a Meadow Brown was the first of this species for the year. A new specie for the site came in the form of a Silverfish in the Mothtraps.

Sunday 24th June 2012

Blowing a gale & bucketing down up to 8ish - after that just blowing a gale - welcome to the British summer ! 34 Swifts, 2 Redshank & a Curlew south are poor returns for observers. Adult Cuckoo on the reserve will be a departing migrant as many adult Cuckoos abandon our shores in the second half of June. By contrast a Reed Warbler singing on the Icky ridge will be a late spring arrival. Insect wise still very poor & it is hoped the warmer spell predicted for this week will finally bring us a few more butterflies & moths whose numbers have been pathetic so far this year. Finally will just mention that the surviving baby Ringo is still out there with the other pair still incubating there second clutch. Only 2 pairs of Ringos this year is the lowest ever number of pairs since records began.