Getting a new site up and running is not always straightforward. I have been monitoring the Barn Owl boxes at Gospel Oak Farm since 2021. The habitat is lovely: beautifully managed hedgerows, a medium sized pond and a traditional, flowered, hay meadow. This is the aerial view of the site:
Whilst checking out the boxes last year I couldn’t help noticing there was a good level of bird activity around the pond area, particularly attractive to Swallows and House Martins. I approached the landowner and asked if he would allow me to run some ringing sessions there. With his approval I ran a test session, with nets set around the pond, last August. We caught 22 birds from nine species. Not a bad start.
So today we decided to try it out again. I was joined by Miranda, Sarah and Ellie at 6:30 and set the following nets:
So far, so good – only it wasn’t! We caught just six birds all morning! All new, two each of Chiffchaff and Wren, one each of Blue Tit and Blackcap.
There was a lot of bird song but virtually no movement. One encouraging sight: at 10:00 there was a small influx of Swallows, hitting the pond in exactly the way I was hoping they would – only I hadn’t set the appropriate nets!
I am pretty sure that it will come good: we will try again next month and see what goes.
Whilst there we checked on the two Barn Owl boxes: the first was clearly being used by a squirrel as a drey. It was absolutely full of twigs and some mammal fur. I emptied the box out and will check it again in a couple of weeks, make sure they aren’t back there.
We had watched a couple of Jackdaw coming in and out of the second box and on checking I found a lined nest and six warm eggs. I closed up the box and left them in peace. In five weeks I will go back and ring the youngsters.
We packed up at 10:30 and left site soon after 11:15. It was a lovely morning, even if the session was a disappointment. Each of the team got to ring two birds each! Wow! Lucky them: I know it is not down to me, but sometimes, as their trainer, I just feel responsible for things beyond my control.
Ringing In The Braydon Forest & Beyond 