No recent Banding Sessions but some Pulus have new bling

 Although we have not had any organized sessions recently we have managed to band a number of youngsters.

Little Owl - Two banded in a nest box at the Cashmere Rd site These were eggs when we banded their mother a month or so ago.

One of the Little Owls held by a very Happy Bloke.

Starling - Three youngsters banded in a neighbour's nest box. They fledged on Christmas Eve, the second brood from this box this year.

Kingfisher - A brood of five banded at a property across the road from the Halswell Quarry. They also have fledged.

There was a huge difference in the development of the Kingfisher chicks, from well feathered to only just bandable.

Redpoll - Four were banded this morning at the Quaifers Rd Wetland.

Halswell Quarry, Japanese Garden - Thu 9 Dec

 On Thursday we had another session at the Quarry amongst the cherry trees in the Japanese Garden. This is the same site we were at last week which is not always a good idea as there is usually a drop in numbers in the second week. But as most of the fruit is now consumed we thought we would try.

We had a group of school children come and have their lunch near us and they showed a lot of interest in what we were doing.

Ruud doing what he likes best, Entertaining & Educating kids

It was a reasonably successful morning with 24 birds of 6 species processed, 20 were new with 4 recaps.

Species caught were -

Blackbird - 3 (1) a big drop from last week indicating that Blackbirds might not be as stupid as we think.

House Sparrow - 10 (2) a bit of an increase probably due to some wheat being scattered around in the previous few day, One of the recaps was banded Oct 2018, so a reasonable age.

Our first juvenile Sparrow for this spring/summer.

Greenfinch - 3 (0)

Silvereye - 2 (1) the recap was banded last week.

Song Thrush - 1 (0)

Dunnock - 1 (0)

Fantail - 1 (0) this was colour banded by Laura as part of one of her studies.

The Fantail getting its bling

The fantail with its bling plus a little royal purple

Halswell Quarry Thu 2 Dec - A wet start then some good banding.

 We had a session planned at the Quarry this morning to try to catch birds feeding on small cherries that have formed on flowering cherry trees in the Japanese Garden section. Upon sticking my head out the door found, contrary to the forecast, it was raining steadily. When I arrived at the Quarry it was still raining, not hard but too hard for mist netting. A few others had also arrived so we decided to check some nest boxes, and banded 3 young Starlings in one so it wasn't a complete waste of time. While standing around talking the weather decided to clear up. Up went some nets and we were underway an hour and a half later than planned.

In the next couple of hours we processed  32 birds of 8 species with 26 new and 6 recaptures.

Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)

Blackbird - 9 (4) the first 2 caught both had pox on their legs which is in my experience unusual in Blackbirds. One also had a crusty/scabby area on its belly around the vent and I am not sure what is was. These 2 were the only birds caught with any problems.

The Blackbird with the large Pox on its leg.

The one with a small pox and a crusty bottom.

Song Thrush - 1

Dunnock - 1

House Sparrow - 6 (2)  one of the recaps was banded April 2018 and is now the oldest Sparrow we have recaptured. It was banded only about 100m from where it was recaptured.  In contrast the other recap was banded at Ruud's place about 1km away.

Greenfinch - 2

Goldfinch - 3

Two of the Goldfinch, probably a pair. Caught together and banded in a short ceremony.

Silvereye - 1

as well as the 3 Starling nestlings from the nest box.