Halswell Quarry Thu 27 Oct - a good morning and a new species

 We had a session in the Conservation area of the Quarry this morning with very good conditions, overcast with very little wind. There was the odd spot of rain but fortunately it didn't come to anything. Twenty-two birds of 7 species were caught with all but one being new.

Birds caught were -

House Sparrow - 5

Greenfinch - 8

Redpoll - 2 

these are the first Redpolls we have caught at the Quarry. Others have been caught nearby and they are regularly seen within the quarry and probably breed there but until now we haven't caught any. Although they could have been a pair, they were caught in separate nets at least an hour apart.

The male in bright breeding plumage.

The female Redpoll being extracted from the net.

The female being banded

Starling - 1

Silvereye - 1 new and a recap that had been banded at the same spot a couple of years ago.

Song Thrush - 3 one an adult caught in a net and 2 Puli from a nest that eagle eyed Jan spotted.

Fantail - 1. In the last few days, we have also banded 3 Fantails at Jan's place which adjoins the Quarry, 2 Puli from a nest and 1 of their parents. 

Jan proudly holding the Fantail

Fantail ready for release

A couple of Little Owls Banded

 We have recently banded two Little Owls, both presumed females, in nest boxes each with 3 eggs.

The first was at our Cashmere Rd site. It was in the same nest box as the birds banded last year but to my surprise it was unbanded and we had banded an adult a year ago. According to the reference books it is the female that incubates during the day so unless this bird is an exception to this rule it is a new female. If anyone knows if this is correct, could you please let me know.

The Cashmere Rd Bird.

The other bird was in a box erected by Kenny at his property in Loburn. In my opinion he had erected the box in a completely unsuitable place. I spend hours trying to work out the best place to erect boxes with very limited success and Kenny sticks one up and has almost immediate success. I think I might have to change my strategy.

Kenny and one of his sons Stanley had built the box from plans taken from the internet. The box was erected high up in a sapling eucalypt tree at a height that I wouldn't even attempt. One of the main considerations being that they wanted to be able to observe any activity from the house. Kenny in a previous life was an Arborists so had no trouble erecting the box and checking it. 

Kenny and Stanley with their Little Owl

Kenny making his way up to the box.

Kenny banding the bird

Kenny replacing the bird in the nest box

 

Harrier Update - Some Rehab birds and a couple of road casualties.

 I haven't done much in the way of banding recently mainly due to a medical issue. Had a minor op which didn't heal as planned, so I am a bit restricted for a while.

Ruud and I did manage to get out to the Wildlife hospital that is based near Willowbank and band some birds that are in recovery before they are released. There was 1 Little Owl and 3 Harriers, 2 of the Harriers were road casualties, 1 from near Kaikoura, the other near Flock Hill. The third bird is suffering from lead poisoning and came from near Hanmer Springs.

Pauline the Vet at the Wildlife Hospital with one of the Rehab Harriers which is starting to get quite stroppy and no doubt looking forward to its freedom. 

There have been 2 road fatalities reported. One was a bird we banded at Lakeside, and it was found dead on Harts Rd about 400m from where it was banded 89 days ago back in July.

The Harts Rd bird showing its bands. I hope the bands are still as easy to read in several years' time instead of just a couple of months.

 The other was found about 25k on the east side of the Hamner Springs turnoff on St Highway 7. It had been banded just north of Blenheim in April 2020 by Dave Bell. This is about 170k away, so it had made quite a journey. 

Another report received was from Phil who managed to get the color band number of a bird. It had been trying to catch a newly fledged Song Thrush at his place in Motukarara, where it had been banded 19 days before.

 so I am a bit restriced for a while