Martin And More

Information arrived from French ringers of ring number 8998514 we caught at Cockerham on 5 June 2021. 

https://anotherbirdblog.blogspot.com/2021/06/a-french-bonus.html  

8998514 - Museum Paris

“Here are the details of a ringed bird you have reported.” 

Species: Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

Scheme: FRP

Ring no: 8998514 

Ringing details: Age: 3 (juvenile) 

Ringing date: 19 Aug 2020 at 23:30:00 

Site name: Tour aux Moutons, Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France Ringer: Paris, -11 

Finding details Age: 4 (adult) 

Sex: F 

Finding date: 05 Jun 2021 at 08:00:00 

Biometrics: Wing: 102.0 mm. Weight: 11.9 g. 

Time: 08:00:00hrs 

Subsequent Capture: - Duration: 290 days Distance: 740 km Direction: 356deg (N) 

Sand Martin

So not too many surprises there with a first year Sand Martin being caught in France whilst on migration to North Africa. 8998514 may have been born in Lancashire, possibly at Cockerham Quarry to where it returned to breed in 2021 as an adult female. 

Donges, (as named above) is a site of major natural significance on the Loire Estuary where a large part of the 200 hectares site is protected in an “original natural state.” The area contains the single biggest bank of reed beds on the Loire Estuary. 

Since 2003, the Loire Atlantique Association for Ornithological Knowledge and Research (ACROLA) has been carrying out bird ringing operations every summer in the reed beds located to the south of the East Donges facility, to study post-breeding migration of birds which use the zone as a staging area. 

Loire Atlantique, France. 

 

Swallows and Sand Martins use the reed beds as a night time sanctuary during migration time. The reeds also hold large populations of small passerines such as Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Aquatic Warbler, as residents and migrants. The latter species Acrocephalus paludicola, Aquatic Warbler is a critically endangered species. 

Back at Cockerham today I found again the Great Egret that went missing for a few weeks. Of course this bird could be a different one as its habits are different by spending 90% of each day in secluded trees, out of sight out of mind.  It’s nearest companions were a single Grey Heron and two Little Egrets. 

Great Egret

Near there, a Skylark at last feeding young. And both Oystercatchers and Redshanks with young in tow. 

Back soon with more news and views. Stay Tuned.

Linking this post to Eileen's Blogspot and Anni in Texas.

Down On The Farm

I did get to the farm today but not the usual one, just Old Holly Farm at Cabus for a day out with our two granddaughters Olivia and Isabella. Apart from a few Pied Wagtails and domestic chickens we didn’t see many birds, only pigs, cows, goats, rabbits, horses and newly born lambs. Everyone say Aaah! 

Meanwhile back at the real farm and from last summer there’s a report of a Sedge Warbler recaptured in France. First ringed on 1st August 2010 it was captured by French ringers in Donges, Loire Atlantique on 27 August 2012, an elapsed time of 757 days and a distance of 730 kms, not counting the distance travelled in the intervening year, or the many miles this bird travelled once it reached Africa in both 2010 and 2011. We did not recapture this bird at Out Rawcliffe during the summers of 2011 or 2012 so it is safe to assume it originated further north of Out Rawcliffe.

Sedge Warbler - Out Rawcliffe to Loire Atlantique

Sedge Warbler

I did my top up of the feed yesterday and in the process clocked up much of the customary birds with a few extra goodies like a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin and the Hen Harrier making its way over to Pilling again. The harrier scattered a flock of Wood Pigeons although I don’t think it was actually hunting them, just passing through. It’s another distant shot; this bird does not like us humans, our vehicles or our buildings. 

Hen Harrier and Wood Pigeons

Short-eared Owl

The usual fare consisted of 1 Brambling on a niger feeder, 6 Chaffinch, 22 Goldfinch, 2 Snipe 15 Reed Bunting, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 160 Woodpigeon and 14 Corn Bunting. 

Tomorrow its MOT day - the car not me. So with luck both of us will be out on Thursday. Stay tuned to see if we both get a pass.