New years' catch

We got back yesterday after spending new year in Istanbul, immediately filled the feeders and then waited for the birds to realise there was food available (getting up at 7 is not a problem when you're still in a time zone 2 hours ahead!).

Putting the net up this morning but it was a little bit of a disaster - first the guys didnt reach quite far enough, then the net wasnt tense enough, the pegs didnt go into the ground properly, the net fell over (which of course led to some time leaf extracting). Finally (about 10 mins later than I would have liked) I got the net up. Typically, the next thing that happened was that a pigeon flew into the net, bounced, and this somehow managed to snap one of the guys so that the net fell over again...

After all that we only got a handful of birds - 3 bluti, 1 greti and a nuthatch (who was beautiful). I think I will wait a few days so that more birds find the feeder before catching again.

First catch

By yesterday the snow had finally melted enough to make a catch feasible, and after a week of feeding the birds were very familiar with the feeder!

Nets were up by 7.15, and by 8.15 I had started catching.

Suprisingly almost all of the birds had entered the net on their way to the feeders (I had though they would go in on the way from the feeders to the bushes as the net was far less visible that way) so I think they were quite used to flying in for a morning snack.

All in all we caught 24 birds, including a Chaffinch, two Coal Tits, and many great/blue tits.

Update.. finally!

It's been a while since I've posted but there's been not much to post about.

Since moving here I've tried to get in touch with the local ringing group, but havent had much luck. I have also been scared of approaching the landlord about permission to ring in the garden because I'm not technically a tennant. The situation is also complicated by the fact that the garden is overlooked by a boarding house which is occupied most of the time by school kids. In addition to having no car (and so being unable to find myself another site), this has ment I havent been able to ring on my own for a while.

But I plucked up the courage to ask and I have permission to put up a net. I really wish I'd done this earlier! I put feeders out today, and although I'm not planning to catch whilst the snow lasts, it should give the birds some time to find the food.

In other news, the Christmas WWRG trip has been cancelled, which is very disappointing. I would have loved to spend Christmas catching waders. Still, I might be able to spend Christmas morning catching passerines instead now!

All things change

I think this summer can reliably be called 'the summer of no internet'. I've moved into a new house (after spending a few weeks dashing between friends and the Wash for some cannon netting) and am currently using the library computers whilst we wait to get a line installed (yes, there are still houses without phone lines!)

In the meantime I'm exploring the park behind our house for possible net rides, but it's all mature woodland and open grassland, and doesnt look very hopeful. There are sections of less mature woodland but it's very densely packed and not net suitable. Ah well - I might still find something. I've contacted the local ringing group and am waiting to hear back from them, so hopefully I'll be able to do some ringing soon.

Zoology blackbird

When I walked past the nest this morning I could hear peeping noises coming from within - the chicks have hatched! I tried to put my camera over the lip of the nest so I could take a photo and count the chicks/eggs, but the bush was a little bit too dense, and who should arrive back right at that moment in a flurry of wings but the female! She landed on the outside of the bush where her nest was, so we retreated and left her to care for her chicks.

New BLABI nest!

Imagine my glee when I got a phone call from my friend a few days ago, telling me that one of her friends had discovered a blackbird nest in, of all things, a bike basket!

This evening I went along to have a look - and to drop off some nest recording cards and hopefully get some more people recording :). The pair have set up their nest in an abandoned bike's basket, and are really very tame (the female didnt seem bothered even though we were within touching distance of her and her newly-hatched chicks). So here's hoping the chicks fledge safely and that some more people get interested in recording these things..

And that I might be able to ring the chicks (I couldnt find a licensed ringer in time for the last brood).



Mrs Blackbird, not at all fussed about us being there.

Thanks to Sarah and Margot for finding and showing me the nest!

More nests...

The blackbird chicks have fledged and I have found another nest - this one in a far more public position.

Outside my department is a small square of green with a tree and a few bushes. There is a pair of blackbirds which have just finished building their nest there, in full view of any passers-by (if you know which bush to look at). Approaching the nest does not seem to disturb the female at all - she just sits tight - I guess she's used to people! The nest also has an astonishing amount of plastic in it (photos to follow).