First Willys

Preparation is everything for these early starts. I packed a bag with camera, outdoor breakfast and a vacuum flask primed with coffee & milk.  The alarm was set for 0500 allowing time for a rapid wake-me-up shower. A large mug of tea, a piece of toast and twenty minutes later I’m on the road heading for Oakenclough and a few spring migrants. 

As I arrived Andy was already on the move and keen for the off. According to the Beeb’s weather forecast, the morning would be dry but 100% cloudy. It was more of the BBC’s bogus information as we started off in bright sunshine but by 10am a belt of rain arrived and we took the nets down. 

We caught slowly but surely and ended up with another 20 birds in the field sheet including our first Willow Warblers of 2017. Once again, finches led the list at 6 Goldfinch, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Siskin, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Chafffinch, 1 Robin and 1 Coal Tit. 

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll

 

Siskin

Willow Warbler

Birding was pretty quiet although we thought that Siskins and Lesser Redpolls were around in larger numbers than of late with upwards of 25 of both species either lurking or passing overhead. Just the two Willow Warblers we caught, zero Chiffchaffs on site today and still no Goldcrests! 

Otherwise - 15/20 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush.

Linking today to Eileen's Saturday.

More Siskin News

Details arrived of yet another Siskin recovery. Siskins are well worth catching, a species that gives good recovery data, often from ringer to ringer many miles apart, rather than examples of bird mortality. 

Siskin

Andy and I have targeted this species at Oakenclough near Garstang and we now have a number of recoveries showing that Siskins moving through here in February, March and April are on their way to the Scottish highlands. The latest one is bang up to date as it concerned a Siskin we ringed in March 2016, later recaptured by a ringer in Scotland during March of 2017 just a few weeks ago.

As often happens, most of the intervening period remains a mystery other than the fact that after breeding in Scotland the bird would migrate the south of England or across the English Channel to the near Continent.  Lancashire in March is just a staging post in a Siskin’s long migration north.

We ringed Siskin Z860724 as an adult male at Oakenclough near Garstang on 31st March 2016. The finding date was 10th March 2017 in the Highlands of Scotland at Balnain, Glenurquhar. The duration is 344 days and a distance of 398 km. 

Siskin - Oakenclough to Balnain, Scotland

The weather is pretty mixed at the moment with showers and less than ideal wind conditions. Thursday and/or Friday are earmarked for a spot of ringing again at Oakenclough. Stay tuned and discover our catch. 

A Sunday Surprise

I did a circuit of a number of local spots this morning and then later on arrived home with a page full of notes. There was even a tick for my non-existent British List, Lancashire List and Fylde List. “It’s all in your head” as Sue is fond of reminding me. 

I drove through Pilling with nothing much to see until I arrived at Damside where the resident Kestrel looked for breakfast along the roadside. 

Kestrel

Kestrel

I’d only driven a few yards when a Great White Egret flew fairly high across the road but heading out towards Pilling Marsh. This wasn’t the same Great White that’s been knocking around Conder and Glasson for months now, from where it has hardly ventured and where I saw it a week ago. Almost certainly this morning’s bird would be a new one and part of the influx of both large and small white egrets in recent months and days. 

From Lane Ends car park there was no sign of the Great White, just the usual couple of Little Egrets hunched alongside the ditches, a Buzzard to the west near Pilling Water and a Chiffchaff in song. A walk along the sea wall may have revealed the Great White but there was no time – other birds waited.

Great White Egret

At Fluke Hall two or more Chiffchaffs monotoned their name over and over but it was no contest against a newly arrived Blackcap singing loudly for all it was worth. There was a Song Thrush in song and a pair of Chaffinches prospecting the hedgerow. 

Chaffinch

At Gulf Lane a check of the set-aside field where 18/20 Linnets and 2 Stock Dove still feed. There was another Kestrel here, not the one seen half-a-mile away at Damside. 

Behind the sea wall at Sand Villa were c1200 Pink-footed Geese, too distant and partly hidden by fences to spend time. 

There’s still a lot of water at Conder Green with just half-a-dozen Tufted Duck, a single Goosander, 2 Wigeon, 16 Shelduck, 30 Teal and several pairs of Oystercatchers to excite. There are without fail, one or two Little Egrets in residence. Today at the far side of the pool about 80/100 yards away and huddled against the bank was single small white egret which through the “bins” appeared to have a yellow bill. I’d already decided Cattle Egret when an always aggressive Little Egret confirmed it by chasing the other off and sending it into flight over the pool and then over the road towards the Lune marshes.

It was indeed a Cattle Egret, still something of a local rarity despite its multinational and still spreading status. I’ve seen Cattle Egrets in mainland Spain, the Balearics, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Egypt, India and Africa, but never until now in Britain. With very recent multiple sighting here in the UK and even the North West, 2017 may be the long anticipated year of the Cattle Egret. 

Cattle Egret

 

At Glasson – 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 1 Goosander, 1 Chiffchaff. 

There were no Swallows or Sand Martins at Conder Green where one or two might have been expected over the pool or dashing north in the early morning. A drive down Bank Lane to the Sand Martin colony at Chris’ farm produced upwards of 120 excitable Sand Martins around the quarry face and over the water. 

Just half-an-hour later and on my way back from looking over the marsh to see just wagtails and pipits, there were no Sand Martins to be seen. The martins had moved on already - migration in action.

Meadow Pipit

 Back soon with more about birds, news and views on Another Bird Blog.

Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.

Britain’s Mammals - A Review

On my desk for review today is a new Princeton field guide, a book which doesn’t feature birds but one that will be sought after by almost 100% of bird watchers. The book is the much awaited Britain's Mammals: A Field Guide to the Mammals of Britain and Ireland from Princeton Press. This is the latest in the series of best-selling WILDGuides. 

The authors of Britain’s Mammals are Dominic Couzens, Andy Swash, Robert Still, & Jon Dunn. Andy Swash and Robert Still were two of the authors of the hugely successful “Britain’s Birds”, first published in late 2016, a book which found its way into many a birders' library. This latest book is a companion to the bird guide and shares not only one of the authors, but also looks and feels the same as soon as the first page is turned. 

Britain's Mammals

Skipping introductory pages to books is a bad habit of mine, but on this occasion I found myself immersed in the Introduction to Britain’s Mammals. It really is essential reading by firstly reminding us that in comparison to birding, mammal watching is a minority interest with much to be discovered by those willing to devote time and energy. 

The Introduction explains in just a few succinct pages the life-cycle and biology of mammals together with a very useful explanation and diagrammatic display of the names and scientific classification of Mammalia. A handy text and photographic overview of the types of British mammals reminds the reader that in comparison to the comparatively easy pursuit of birding, the study of mammals requires different techniques. A potential mammal watcher must exploit various times of both day and night and often use different equipment and methods to find and photograph their elusive quarry. 

Britain's Mammals - Princeton Press.

Part of the Introduction, the History of Britain’s Mammals, describes how getting close to wild animals takes a great deal of concentration and patience to achieve any sort of result; watching mammals is infinitely more difficult than birding. There is a timely explanation of why. For seven centuries or more persecution and exploitation of both land and marine mammals was rife, with many species becoming extinct or their numbers seriously reduced. No wonder then that history has taught mammals how to avoid homo sapiens, their most deadly and persistent predator. 

I guess I suffer from many misconceptions about British mammals, the main one, borne out by a glance at the book’s Contents page, is just how many mammal species can be seen in the British Isles. It is easy to forget that the UK and Ireland terrestrial mammals like squirrels, voles, mice shrews, moles, hedgehogs, rabbit, hares, carnivores and deer are in the minority. Bats and marine mammals form the largest groups of British mammals, reflected in the 70 pages devoted to 30 species of bats and over 40 pages featuring 37 species of marine mammals – seals and cetaceans. 

Britain's Mammals - Princeton Press.

The field guide element of Britain’s Mammals has handy and up-to-date distribution maps on the species' page together with illustrations which denote both the status and size of the animal. A typical page contains tips and information on where to look for a particular animal, its habitat, habits, food, breeding behaviour and population status. Very often there is information and helpful advice on the tracks and signs that may give away the animal’s location and/or its identification.

There are seven pages devoted to illustrating animal tracks. The publishers even provides a ruler in the inside book cover for the reader to measure tracks they find and then compare with scale bars depicted at the illustrations on each relevant page at p46-52. What a simple but innovative idea from the authors to make this a fully interactive field guide. 

Britain's Mammals - Princeton Press.

I must make special mention of the photographs in Britain’s Mammals. They are almost without exception truly stunning given the difficulties of in the first place even seeing mammals in the British countryside. In particular, the photographs of bats, both in flight and at rest, are simply superb, as are the pictures of mice and shrews. These are animals which are rarely glimpsed by everyday field workers who spend many hours in the great outdoors. I can only marvel at the time, skill, effort and dedication devoted to taking these images. 

Britain's Mammals - Princeton Press.

In summary. The winning WILDGuide formula continues throughout this wide-ranging and attractively designed field guide that follows in the major footsteps of Britain’s Birds. There’s a fully photographic experience and high quality information from its approximately 500 colour photos and 325 pages. 

Britain’s Mammals is a book for simple enjoyment as well as for learning and I heartily recommend it to readers of Another Bird Blog. It is available now from the usual sources at $29.95 or £17.95 and is something of a bargain. 

Britain's Mammals and Britain's Birds - Princeton Press.

Log in to Another Bird Blog soon for more news, views and reviews.

Linkintg today to Eileen's Saturday Blog.

First “Phyllosc”

I met up with Andy for another ringing session at Oakenclough. After three or four night of clear weather and sunny skies to help migration along it was perhaps too much to expect a large catch. 

And so it proved with just 12 birds - 4 Goldfinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Wren, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Siskin, 1 Chiffchaff. 

Wren

Siskin

Lesser Redpoll

The Chiffchaff was our first for the year here and although it was a male we did not hear it singing prior to it appearing in the net at 0900. By March 28th an early Willow Warbler might also be around. A cursory check revealed that appearance-wise our first “phyllosc” was clearly a Chiffchaff. On closer inspection primary 2= 7-8, and primary 6=emarginated, so therefore nothing but a Chiffchaff. It is not unknown that dull and dark-legged Willow Warblers can resemble a Chiffchaff, but also that Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff hybrids occur, even though they are very rare.

 

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

For phylloscopus enthusiasts and those with an interest in sub-species who may also enjoy scientific jargon, there was an interesting online paper recently. A dictionary will be useful to translate some of the terminology used by the authors. The paper is entitled “Patterns of genetic, phenotypic, and acoustic variation across a chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita abietinus/tristis) hybrid zone.” At http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.2782/full 

Ornithologists studied a “hybrid zone” in Europe where a number of subspecies of Chiffchaffs are known to occur and interbreed. The paper’s conclusion is perhaps far from surprising to most birders - a mix of genetic ancestry shows extensive ongoing and past gene flow with at least one of the previously described subspecies of Chiffchaff unlikely to be a distinct species. 

Also, subspecies identification of Chiffchaffs in this region based (and probably elsewhere in its migration range! – my italics) on appearance is uncertain, as even an individual with apparently distinct looks such as “Siberian Chiffchaff”, can have a considerable proportion of its make-up hybridised from the other subspecies. 

Birding wise this morning we noted 3 Pied Wagtail. Also a single Mistle Thrush in song, one Sand Martin dashed through on a northerly track north and then within a minute of each other saw both the male and female Sparrowhawks of the local pair.

Linking this post to Anni's Blog and Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.

Saturday Shift

I was a little delayed at seeing the -2°on the dash and waiting for frost to clear from the windscreen. I was motoring up to Oakenclough to meet Andy for a 0630 start to a ringing session. 

There was a little light, so rather than the main road journey with zero birds, I opted to head across the empty moss roads where there might be a Barn Owl or two looking for breakfast. 

Rawcliffe Moss, Lancashire

Success came with two hunting Barn Owls, the first at Stalmine and then another at Nateby. I paused briefly, mainly to make sure the owls flew away from the danger of the road before continuing north and east. 

Barn Owl

I sometimes wonder if the Barn Owl has fully adapted to the motor vehicle and to railways. Studies show that while starvation is a major factor, collision with vehicles is the leading cause of recorded deaths of Barn Owls. In some cases over 50% of all recorded deaths were attributable to some form of collision or other accident and within this category the most prevalent are road traffic victims, which form approximately 45% of all deaths. 

"Natural’ causes" account for roughly 30% of all recorded Barn Owl deaths. The most important is starvation, circa 25% of all deaths, followed by disease/parasitism at 3% and then predation at approximately 2%. Minor causes included other forms of trauma, drowning in water-troughs, and electrocution. 

This vulnerability to external factors shows why the population of Barn Owls fluctuates dramatically from one year to the next and also explains why the species has special legal protection in the UK. 

Our ringing session was fairly quiet with no obvious signs of migration other than once again, a decent catch of returning Lesser Redpolls. One of the Lesser Redpolls, an adult male with ring sequence beginning S211 proved to be from elsewhere. It’s always good to catch a bird from elsewhere in the expectation of finding out where the bird spent some of its earlier life. The unfamiliar ring number is now sent to the BTO and the original ringing details will be forwarded to us a later date. 

Today’s birds: 11 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Goldcrest. We caught our first Goldcrest of the year. With a wing length of 49mm and weight of 4.9 grams the bird tallied with the ringers’ rule that the two figures are always a decimal point apart. 

Goldcrest

Below, the two Siskins – adult male and adult female. Siskin migration seems a little "thin" this year whereas Lesser Redpoll movement so far appears to be up to scratch. 

Siskin

Siskin

Below is adult male Lesser Redpoll S211etc, ringed elsewhere.

Lesser Redpoll

Below are details of Lesser Redpolls moving to or from Oakenclough since recommencing ringing here in late 2014.    

D618555 

Ringed 02/02/14 Market Drayton, Shropshire - adult male
Recaptured 14/03/15 Oakenclough, Lancashire (116 km, N, 1 yr 40days)

D700694  

Ringed 11/01/14 Walkden, Manchester, Greater Manchester - second year male
Recaptured 18/03/16 Oakenclough, Lancashire (49 km, NNW, 2 yrs 67days)

D948673 

Ringed 29/09/14 Woolston Eyes, Warrington-  adult female
Recaptured 20/04/16 Oakenclough, Lancashire (60 km, NNW, 1 yr 204days)

S109508  Ringed 05/03/16 Dales Brow, Swinton, Greater Manchester - second year female

Recaptured 31/03/16 Oakenclough, Lancashire (52 km, NNW, 26 days)

Today's clear skies and little visible migration meant that “birding birds” were few and far between with 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Mistle Thrush and 5 Long-tailed Tits the best we could muster.

Linking today to Anni who too would rather be birding.

Garden Gore

The troublesome tail end of Stella has meant a week of enforced inactivity for yours truly. The local ban on ringing due to Avian Flu is now lifted but the wind and rain of recent days has given no opportunity for ringing or birding. 

In my own garden and those of close neighbours there’s been a Chiffchaff, a singing Mistle Thrush, a calling Tawny Owl, a steady stream of Goldfinches, plus a number of Dunnocks chasing around. 

Chiffchaff

Tawny Owl

More showers this morning, and as I typed away, Sue reported a killing taking place on the back lawn. 

From the bedroom window I saw that an adult female Sparrowhawk had just collared a Collared Dove and was in the process of finishing off the job by sinking its talons into the dove's flesh. A Collared Dove is a large bird and at the top end of the list of prey sizes a female Sparrowhawk can handle. 

After a minute or so the Sparrowhawk flew with it now dead prey to the quieter end of the garden and where in the shelter of the trees for the next fifteen minutes it would take its meal. The bottom of the garden near the trees and the fence can be pretty gloomy in the rain and cloud so I switched to ISO1000. 

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

A Sparrowhawk plucks its prey before it can eat the meat. By the end of its meal the Sparrowhawk's crop was noticeably bulging from eating a whole Collared Dove. The hawk flew off carrying the carcass and  left a pile of feathers only as evidence.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

 

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Remains of a Sparrowhawk meal

The weather forecast is slightly better for Friday/Saturday. Let’s hope there’s some birding or ringing by then. If so read about it here. In the meantime, don’t forget to keep an eye out for garden birds.

Linking today to Eileen's Saturday and Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.