March ringing, and two Canada Goose sightings

On Saturday 7th, Andy had a 4 hour garden session, for an improved catch of 27 + (10), made up of Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Dunnock (3), Blue Tit 9 +( 5), Great Tit 6 + (1), House Sparrow 3, Goldfinch 5, Siskin 3 and Greenfinch 1. The majority of the recaptures had been ringed in Andy's garden last winter, just one Blue Tit was ringed elsewhere - at the jetty where ringed June 2019 (but also caught in Andy's garden last winter).

With some 60-70 birds still visiting the Pennorth crop, Andy decided to try again before they dispersed. Wednesday 17th was reasonably calm, but because "stay local" travel restrictions were in force, he had to try on his own. Unfortunately, the birds were using the lower part of the field with the sheep on the grazed swede stubble, and he was unable to move them to the bird crop (now with hardly any seed left in it). After three hours he decided to pack up, with no catch.

On Monday 22nd it was five hour session at his garden feeders (during gardening tasks), and he had a decent catch of 17 + (4), made up of Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 2 + (4), Great Tit 1, Goldfinch 8, Siskin 2 and Greenfinch 3. As he expected, more finches have started using his garden now that the winter trial period has finished.

"Stay local" restrictions ended on Saturday 27th, and Jerry took the opportunity to undertake his first ringing of the year (at the Lake). Although there was quite a fresh westerly breeze, it was reasonably sheltered at the hut, so he opted for a net up at the feeders for about three hours. Despite the feeders only being filled occasionally over the past three months, he had a reasonably catch of 9 + (17), made up of Wren (1), Dunnock (1), Marsh Tit 1, Blue Tit (6), Great Tit (3), Treecreeper (1), Nuthatch 1 + (1), Goldfinch 2 + (1), Greenfinch 5 + (1) and Chaffinch (2). Both Chaffinch were showing no signs of diseased legs, but an additional bird with extremely calloused legs was released unringed.

With 53 birds ringed in March, our YTD becomes 102.

The relaxation of travel restrictions saw a "rush of visits" at the end of the month, with Jerry, Peter & Alan J, and Jeremy all visiting on different days to net mend/do some management work. Andy and Martin Preece also put up 15 new/2 old Group nest-boxes at a new woodland site in Cwm Sorgwm under Mynydd Troed. They are of an appropriate build for both Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, and have been sited with these species in mind. They will hopefully boost numbers in the valley as well as the Group’s catches of those summer migrants, with the possibility for some long-distance controls and recoveries.

photo by Alan J

Canada Geese 5287756 and 5287933 were both ringed (by Helen Ackerman, about 2 hrs apart) on 30 June 2019, both have had their rings read at Cwmbran, Torfaen on 24 March 2021 -  633 days, 37 km, 155 degrees. They were also seen (together) at Cwmbran Boating Lake on 18 November 2019.