Halswell Quarry - Thu 11 Feb. - A reasonably successful morning.

 We had our first session at the Quarry for the year on Thursday morning. With 20 birds caught it was very similar to the equivalent summer sessions over the last couple of years when we caught 19.  There was a smaller number of banders this year but still sufficient to handle the bird numbers. 

Most of the Team, L to R Jan our main helper-outer. Sandra our Scribe, and banders Eleanor and Andrew.

There were 6 species caught with 16 new and 4 recaps. As is usual at this time of year House Sparrows dominated and Silvereyes were absent in contrast to the Winter months. There appears to be a big drop in Chaffinch numbers, from being well represented a couple of years ago to being absent or near absent.

Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)

Dunnock - 1 (0)

Greenfinch - 0 (1)

Yellowhammer - 1 (0) The last bird caught as we were taking nets down.

Ririka, our Japanese student photographing the Yellowhammer

House Sparrow - 13 (2) about half were newly fledged juveniles.

Song Thrush - 0 (1) We have only banded 20 S Thrushes at the Quarry and this was only our 2nd recapture and is our oldest.

Fantail - 1 (0) A newly fledged bird enticed into a net by our Fantail whisperer, Andrew but he failed with its sibling.

A few more young Swallows and a few others.

 Banded another brood of nestling Welcome Swallows at the Halswell Quarry. There were three in this brood and this is the third lot they have reared this Spring/Summer.

Ruud was visiting a friend who operates a plant nursery near Prebbleton and while talking to his mate found out there was a Swallow nest in one of the sheds. When he asked if we could band them he was given the OK. Next morning we met up and with the aid of a rather long ladder were able to do the deed. Another 4 birds successfully given some bling. Our makeshift banding table was unfortunately empty.

I have also made an attempt to do some banding at the Quaifers Rd Wetland. This is mainly to try to work out how to do this and where to set nets in order to catch something. I think I have worked out what to do but now the majority of the birds, mostly Goldfinches & Redpolls have moved to the paddock next door which is completely covered with seeding thistles. Only managed to catch 5 birds, 2 Song Thrush, and 1 each of Blackbird, Silvereye and Dunnock. The Dunnock was a newly fledged bird with a lump on it's leg.