What have you seen

It didn't last long, by the time the net was in place over the pond, it was pretty dismal and raining before the Waxwings were hungry, still practice has improved things, next sun forecast for Saturday. Not sure if the berries will last till then.

GL

Could you explain why the choice of large wing tags rather than rings to mark the birds. It seems a shame to mark in this way, will the tags last the birds life, or come off at some point? I noticed similar tags used on Red Kites.

Bakers, birdsong must be one of the most relaxing and haunting sounds! My IPhone plays birdsong for my alarm and I never get tired of it. The dawn chorus is a most magical thing.

BM

Firstly...I am just an observer and no authority.

I would imagine the wing tags are much more visible from long distance, leg rings for most of the time have to be really close to read them.

As to their longevity, I did report one bird as having only one tag and Phil seemed quite surprised that a tag had fallen off.  This has happened with other birds since.

As you say about Red kites they also have tags and both type of birds are large and can carry the tags with ease.  Phil said that they pin the tags through the skin just behind the wing joint, quite painless I believe.

Phil was telling me that some photographers complain about the tags as they spoil the pictures...I can see it!

The Marsh harriers that nest around 25 minutes from my house were targeted for tagging and I was invited along to witness, but the discussions with landowner dragged on and I think they missed the chance to do it.  Hopefully will get the chance again...can you imagine the pictures I could get of the whole operation. 

BM as a special treat, here is the link to the MH recovery site for Norfolk.

http://www.nwnrg.co.uk/research/marsh_harrier/MH_Project_Recoveries.htm

I have just found out that orange tag comes from Kent and in the write up, the mention of the bird seen in Loddon is my sighting.

 http://www.rspbgravesend.org.uk/2016/03/wing-tagged-marsh-harrier/

A bit of good reading.

If I can find the picture I will post it.

BM

Just think what a bit of sun and colour would have done to the pic's.

Still....better to have these than not have any....considering the light a good effort and I bet it was a pleasure to stand there.

Appears Waxwing are no more around here, you have them all.

I think I may go the Breydon Water on Friday and try to get some flocks of waders in the air, supposed to have some sun.

We only have around a dozen, there were 17 last week. One had been ringed in Aberdeen early December, recorded in Leicester 5/1/17 and turned up in Bradley Stoke Tesco car park last week.

The birds threw a panic yesterday when a female sparrowhawk ( judging by the size) began to take an interest in them.

Mole Hills- they seem much more abundant this spring. I don't think farmers have a ready poison after the banning of Stryknine

Definitely not a mole.

Family of three this morning.

A few recent pics to show that most gardens big and small have something worth looking at through the year.

A Jacquemontii birch I grew from a whip and now has paper curls which rustle in the wind and it's certainly doing that today! A lovely old Tulip tree in NT Stourhead gardens, a camellia and hellebores at home, doing well just now. Signs of Spring appearing. 

GL

Thanks for the links, seems a shame to have tags on the birds, but it does give insight into the birds habits and life expectancy. Interesting to see the birds move away for a while before returning to their birth area. I suppose that would give time for resident adults to rotate a little.