Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Thanks

I must thank all my online friends for the helpful tips, advice and encouragement after my PC fizzed, struggled to load, and then expired, not exactly in a puff of smoke, but it might as well have done. In retaliation I consigned it to a dark corner of the garage in disgrace where it will stay until I have more time to think about it. Both PW and RK were right of course about my bereavement and the ensuing withdrawal symptoms, or in my case the sheer panic as to how I could live my life without a PC, the Internet or Mr Google’s life support system of blogs and blogging.

Dawn On The Moss

So I took Errol’s advice and pulled up a few loosely nailed floorboards as he does periodically, and then I went out to Tesco to buy a new PC, a bog standard HP. And Stu, not an expensive Mac, I’m an OAP not a teacher you know.

Thankfully I don't need a PC to go ringing so off we trotted again to Out Rawcliffe for 5am in the hope of catching the first 3J Whitethroats of the year plus some of the Sedge Warblers and Goldfinches that hid nests from us so well, not to mention the three reluctant Kestrel chicks hiding in the blackness of that tree.

Birds caught totalled 35 of 8 species as follows: New birds:
Goldfinch 3
Sedge Warbler 2
Blue Tit 1
Whitethroat 5
Chaffinch 2
Willow Warbler 8
Blackbird 1
Kestrel 2 (nestlings)

Recaptured birds:
Sedge Warbler 4
Whitethroat 1
Willow Warbler 4
Blackbird 2

We caught 5 juvenile (3J) Willow Warblers and 3 adults, each of which was beginning their post breeding moult which they start soon after or even whilst breeding and complete before heading back to Africa. We caught only one 3J Whitethroat when all around us the adult Whitethroats were busy feeding young. We surmised that the young although fledged weren’t quite ready to explore further than their immediate nest area where we didn’t have nets.

Sedge Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler Moult

After the netting we revisited the Kestrel nest of a few days ago, approaching very quietly, which allowed us to retrieve four out of the five young birds, two of which we ringed previously, therefore two more received their free gift of a BTO ring.

Kestrel

Other birds seen this morning were 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, 5 Mistle Thrush, 10 Swift and that other rarity nowadays, a Cuckoo.

I haven’t yet delved into the cardboard boxes that contain a new PC and enough polystyrene to float the Titanic, so this post is done on Sue’s laptop which will explain why it is so late appearing. So I had better let her get back to doing the important tasks like her research on Trip Advisor and Holiday Truths, while I get busy unpacking.

I just hope I'm back to normal soon.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Don't forget to put the floorboards back!

Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok said...

The Sedge Warbler looks interesting....it looks similar to the reed warblers. Those kestrel chicks are also very cute. Those down feathers must be very soft!

Redzlan said...

Congratulation on your new HP PC!
Yes cute Kestrel.

mick said...

Those warblers look extra tiny when held in the hand. The post breeding moult is very interesting. I watch and photographically document pre-breeding moult in the migratory birds here in SE Queensland, Australia - especially the shorebirds and terns.

Anonymous said...

Great photos - I love the kestrel chicks. And congrats on the new PC, as whatever the cause, new toys are always fun.

Halcyon said...

Oh!!! Those chicks are too cute!

They're all pretty.

Larry said...

Great post Phil. Sorry to hear of your PC problems and I must say, I know just how you feel (I should be backing up my PC right now)!

I love the Kestrel chicks too. They may look fluffy but they already have sharp beaks ;-)

eileeninmd said...

Wow, those Kestrel chicks are too cute! I Loved all your bird photos, Phil.

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful photos, Phil! Those Kestrel chicks are just too cute! Sorry, if I posted twice, an error came up.

Lana Gramlich said...

The young kestrels are wonderful. Good luck with the new computer!

Johnny Nutcase said...

i love this little kestrels - they look feisty! The warblers are awesome too!

Bob Kaufman said...

I'm glad you got a new PC otherwise we would have missed this lovely story and photos. I agree that those young kestrels are mean-looking!

Valerie said...

Isn't it strange how something most of us lived without 20 years ago - is now such an integral part of daily life. Scary how addicted we become.

Wonderful bird photos. I learn so much from reading you 'real' bird photographers!

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