Banding Here and There

Hornsey Rd 25 July

Set the funnel trap here this morning and had a greatly reduced catch with 2 new Silvereyes and 13 recaptures. Amongst the recaps were a few birds not caught here this year including 1 banded in July 09 and not caught for two years. So there has been some movement. Also caught 2 Blackbird recaps both banded in the last couple of years.

Island Bay 24 July

Annette and I spent Tuesday morning at Island Bay and as expected had a much reduced catch. Marion and Ken have had a couple of weeks in Australia and hence the birds haven't been fed on the property but were being fed at a neighbours. I thought it would be interesting to see how quickly the birds returned but obviously not that quick. We only caught 13 birds, 2 Tui, 3 Sparrows, 2 Greenfinch and 4 new Silvereyes and 2 recaps, 1 banded July 09 the other July 10. 

Also re-sighted a colour banded Tui, it had been banded at this site in July 08, then was seen feeding at a sugar water feeder in Crofton Downs during June & July 09 so had moved from Wellingtons's most southerly suburb to one of the most northerly. In August 09 it was back south at Melrose Park and now is back to where it was banded. I would like a summer record to find out where it breeds.

Houghton Bay  20 July

Had a couple of hours at Houghton Bay last Friday to see if birds were coming to the stream in the morning. The short answer is that they are.  I caught 37 birds with 33 new and 4 recaps, 2 Blackbird, 4 Chaffinch, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Grey Warbler and 22 new Silvereye and 4 recaps. One of the recaps was banded here at Hornsey Rd so there might be some movement from here to there.

I am off to Auckland for some R & R and to catch up on family so there is unlikely to be any posts for the next 10 days or so.