Island Bay 23 March - Lots of Sparrows & a new species

Ros and I had a busy morning at Island Bay catching 95 birds of 8 species with 88 new and 7 recaptures. The highlight of the morning was a single bird of a new species for the site, a juvenile Redpoll. We have been banding there since Feb 2007 and as far as I know this is the first Redpoll seen there let alone caught.

Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)
Blackbird - 1 (3) the new bird had a wing length of 140 mm which is the longest we have recorded with the previous being 137 mm. The bird has finished its primary moult so was aged as a 2+.

The wing of the long winged Blackbird

One of the recaps banded as a spotty youngster a couple of months ago and now nearly finished its body moult

Dunnock - 3 (0)
Chaffinch - 3 (0)
Redpoll - 1 (0) Redpolls are regular Winter visitors to Wellington City, feeding on annual, winter seeding grasses on playing fields but are rarely seen over Summer and Autumn  We haven't caught one at the Zoo in the 12 years we have been banding there.

The Redpoll about to go on its way.

House Sparrow - 77 (4) still a huge number of Sparrows at this site with some recently fledged. Two of the recaps were banded recently and the other two last year.

Male Sparrows show a wide range of moulting

Grey Warbler - 1 (0)
Fantail - 1 (0)
Silvereye - 1 (0)

As usual we were treated to great hospitality including a delicious morning tea (actually coffee)

The morning tea spread.