A Well Earned Roost

It's been another great week and I have so much to blog about, so I will have to split all the information across a few blogs. Later in the week I will be blogging about some more fox cam success and about some filming this weekend.  

Hope you all enjoyed doing your RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch this week - what did you get? We got Reed Buntings, Rooks, House Sparrows, Tits, Blackbirds and even 6 Black Head Gulls feeding from the back tray in the snow.

 Scouse Ringer set me a challenge this week, and I had to pass it to go on a roost ringing session with him. I think we caught the most species on the first net round, catching Chaffinches, a Blackbird and a stunning male Gold Crest. I was lucky enough to ring it which was a real treat!

They take a AA ring type. I was really addicted to the fiery head - amazing colours.

Another small bird that we caught taking an AA ring was a Wren, the first for me this year.

Here we are comparing the size of a Gold Crest and a Wren; in comparison the Goldcrest is quite a bit smaller than the Wren, although it doesn't show this so well in the picture. Check out Charlies thumbnail compared to the size of the Goldcrest.

When I was ringing the birds I was checking if they were male or female, juvenile or adult and all this information is recorded.

I think I got most of them right.

Some of the Chaffinches were almost in full breeding plumage especially the males, however the males' bills weren't blue yet. I was taking a few birds out of the bags and I think I did quite well.

I rung a new tit species today (a Coal Tit) one of my favorite birds.

A fabulous day with lots more great teaching from Peter. I also got to see a Peregrine, Woodcock, Teal, 2 Ravens and a single Grey Lag Goose flying over. 

(And no wellie disasters this week!).

Scouse Ringer's challenge was to name the only group of birds that can't walk if any of you want to have a go.

Wild Bird Wednesday