PC World attracts the crowds

Saturday 23rd April

An excellent morning at PC World, Poole this morning for Shaun, Terry, John, Marcus and Gryllo.

A man made water channel behind the store sees treated water flow out towards the bay and has become a magnet for over wintering Chiffchaffs attracted to the warmer urban conditions. 

These overwintering birds have now been joined by early migrants also seeking refuge amongst the bitterly cold March weather.

After a late start at 08:00 the first round was quiet. However lots of Chiffs were seen feeding by the waterline. Next round was really busy and the rest of the morning continued in same vain. We were still catching when we took down at 1pm.

In the end we caught 73 Chiffs of which 68 were new (1 tristis), 4 were re-trapped from previous visits and 1 was a control.

2 Siskins and other odds and end  made up 75 new birds!

    An undoubted tristis (unless the DNA says otherwise!). Pure grey and white except for some green 

    fringing to the outer webs of the primaries - Photo by Ian Lewis http://gryllosblog.wordpress.com/

Sunday 24th April

After yesterdays success Shaun, Gryllo, Sean and Simon returned to see lots of Chiffchaffs still around, including many of yesterday’s birds still present and feeding right down at the water’s edge.

Today we caught 13 new ones and 12 from yesterday or earlier dates.

Other birds ringed included Goldcrest, Wren and Dunnock plus 10+ Sand Martin seen flying around the water.

Another 'possibly' tristis bird was caught, so a feather sample of both this bird and yesterdays will be sent off for genetic analysis to ascertain identification as part of an agreed BTO project.

So after cold toes and locking my keys in the car, definitely a successful weekend

Posted by: Simon Breeze

Quick garden ringing session

First bird was a nice suprise. A Treecreeper! A few Siskin after that made a pleasant half hours ringing.

Out of County, fun at the farm

While visiting the inlaws in Wiltshire, Mike managed to ring a Little Owl on their farm.

Josh and the Little Owl

Another Jack!

Terry and Simon had a go at lamping the other night and within 5 mins had caught a Jack Snipe! Great start but thereafter no more birds that evening!

Woodcock retrap

Our first woodcock retrap. Hopefully the first of many. This one was caught within a few metres of where it was back in December. With a weight gain of about 40g.

Garden ringing

Sean and Mike had a busy start to the day last Sunday. Several Siskin and Goldfinch and a few other species made up the 57 new birds.


 Also a Blue Tit was retrapped from 5 years ago!



Photos show males of Chaffinch,Siskin and Nuthatch.

Lamping again

With the torch dimming, Kevin and Mike managed to lamp and ring a Jack Snipe tonight. A couple of Woodcock were seen but were suprisingly flightly.