30 Days Wild - Day 28

 30 Days Wild - Day 28 ~ 28th June 2015 ~

This morning I was up early to go ringing and was picked up at 5.15 to get on site for 5.30. We set all the usual nets and got a table set up at our base, ready to receive the local RSPB Wildlife Explorers Group for a bird ringing demonstration.

They arrived at about 7.00 by which time we had already caught and processed 4 birds - 1 Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), 1 Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), 1 Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) and a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and we had two birds from our previous round left to ring. 1 was a very special bird indeed and as far as I'm aware it's the first for the site too!! It was a Nuthatch (Sitta europaea). Nuthatch are stunning birds but sadly not one I've encountered very often over the last few years, given that this bird is only the 3rd Nuthatch I've ever ringed!

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Juvenile Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

We continued to catch a reasonable number of birds, mainly juveniles, until the RSPB group departed at around 9.30. I always enjoy doing ringing demonstrations, especially when there's lot of kids in the audience because you never know, one of those young people might be completely inspired by what they've seen and go on to be the next Jane Goodall or David Attenborough!!

Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

After the group left, we caught quite a few more birds, including a lovely Song Thrush and a Jay.

Jay (Garrulus glandularis)

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)

We ended the morning getting absolutely drenched once we'd packed up all the kit and were heading back to the car at about midday.

The totals for the morning are as follows (re-traps in brackets):

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) - 10
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) - 5
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - 9
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) - 5 (2)
Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) - 1
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) - 1
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) - 1
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - 5
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - 1
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - 4 (1)
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - 2 (1)

Total: 44 (4)

Some other pictures from this morning:

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar feeding on Ragwort

Ringlet butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus)

Bee species (I'm rubbish at bees so any help
with identification is much appreciated)