The last time I went to Red Lodge, on the 9th July, I caught just six birds in 180 metres of net in four hours, so it was with some trepidation that I returned to the site. David and I were on site for 6:30, with Teresa and Andy joining us soon after. Finally, we were joined by Claire and her children at about 8:00.
I didn’t set quite so much net this time, as one of the rides had become extremely enclosed by the canopy having become heavily weighed down.
Things did not start auspiciously: we had to wait over an hour for the first birds to get caught in the net. When they did it was pleasing to start with two juvenile Marsh Tits:
Juvenile Marsh Tit, Poecile palustris
It is shaping up to be a good year for this species in the Braydon Forest. They were accompanied by a couple of Wrens and Blackcaps. That was the best round. Apart from that it was just ones and twos until we reached the grand total of 18 birds from nine species. I suppose a 300% increase on last time is something to be pleased with.
Actually, there was a lot to be pleased with, primarily this:
Juvenile male Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus (photo courtesy of Teresa Farr)
It was very obliging: it hit the net at speed, struggled and escaped, but had the good graces to try again. This time we were ready for it, and I managed to extract it without damage (especially to me, these birds are not exactly docile). The plumage was very fresh and the colouration stunning. Its very pale yellow eye colour is typical of a juvenile Sparrowhawk. The plumage colouration and biometrics (wing length and weight) were perfect for juvenile male.
The final bird out of the nets was an adult female Nuthatch. She was undergoing her post-breeding moult of wings and tail and had almost completely feathered over her brood patch. Another month and we will find it almost impossible to distinguish between adults and juveniles as both undergo a full moult into adult plumage post-fledging or post-breeding.
The list for the day was: Sparrowhawk [1]; Nuthatch 1; Blue Tit [1]; Great Tit [2](1); Marsh Tit [2]; Wren [3]; Robin [2]; Blackbird [2]; Blackcap [3]. Totals 1 adult ringed, 16 juveniles ringed from 8 species and 1 retrap, making 18 birds processed from 9 species.
There was an extremely sharp shower at just after 11:00, just as we were thinking about closing up, to help make our minds up and we started taking down. Many hands make light work, and everything was packed away pretty quickly. Fortunately, the rain stopped and we managed to dry most things off before putting them in the car. We were off site just after midday.
Ringing In The Braydon Forest & Beyond 