Halswell Quarry Wed 18 May - all new birds

 Our session at the Quarry on Wednesday morning was reasonably successful, with 19 new birds banded. There were no recaptures made which is a bit surprising as there have been several hundred birds banded in this area in the last few years.

The new birds were - Silvereye 8, House Sparrow 5, Greenfinch 4, Song Thrush 1, There was also a Grey Warbler colour banded as part of Laura's study.

Della with one of the Greenfinch

Vanessa with the Song Thrush.

Another Harrier Banded

In the afternoon I did a country visit. This was mostly a social visit to relatives but I had also arranged for my brother to set Harrier traps. This proved successful and I was able to band another Harrier. As our colour bands had arrived from Canada in the last few days I was also able to colour band this bird. So as well as carrying a bright new metal band it has a Red one with a White  number on the other leg. 

Yesterday's bird, although a female with the yellow eye of an adult, was noticeably darker than the one banded at this site recently and was  probably younger.

The new bird's bling which includes a bit of colour