Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
Gibraltar Ringer 4
With the prospect of going over to Spain to ring tomorrow morning, we are hastily back from Middle Hill and a quick repack of kit. No time compromised as the change in wind to a Westerly and little early cloud, reduced the numbers of birds considerably. Even the raptors were scarce today. Nevertheless, of the 23 birds ringed this morning, one new one for the list was Whitethroat. The fresh birds that we see in the fields at home look a little tired and worn here and it is surprising how many local birds simply do not move far. The combination of well travelled and local species that moult twice if hatched early in the year, makes for some interesting debates, Sardinian Warbler and Blackbirds in particular. Pied Flycatchers (pictured), Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and Redstart made up some of the other numbers. A control Blackcap was very surprisingly ringed by Julia 2 years ago at Jew's Gate.
Despite having all nets up and in the right place, Charles Perez helpfully suggested that the line of four on the steepest slope should be moved three feet to the left to get closer to the vegetation. We all agreed and Mark Cutts' teddy remained intact so hopefully Sunday's ringing should produce better numbers.
Gibraltar Ringer 3
Mark's teddy bear has been sown back together and he has been placated by a Redstart. What did you expect when ringing with two A ringers? Charity? So when the second Subalpine Warbler turned up yesterday and it was ringed by Julia, pieces of teddy were everywhere. It could be assumed that the next rarity would be his. Wrong. One of the first birds today was a Bonelli's Warbler (pictured) - a really delicate and beautifully coloured bird and so I had to ring it. Poor old teddy.
Alarmingly, having opened the nets on Middle Hill in the dark, the first net round in the light was confronted by a large family of 'apes'. They have more right to be on the hill than we do and so they were gently persuaded to leave. A rather slow tick-over of birds followed but produced the Bonelli's and some Redstarts among the Sardinian Warblers and, a first for the trip, a pair of Pied Flycatchers. Again, Iberian Chiffchaffs in reasonable numbers, which show more of the colouration of Willow Warblers than Common Chiffs. Only 29 birds ringed today but we are still ringing more than Jews Gate at the moment.
With that thought in mind, we put up yet more nets! We now have 18 nets totalling 324 feet but we have at least produced a circuit so that we only pass the nets once, albeit crampons are needed for half of it. A gentle start stalking Red-necked Nightjars tomorrow (a European Nightjar heard this morning) and a better day for teddy perhaps.
Gibraltar Ringer 2
Much better day on the slopes of the Rock with 47 birds ringed and yet more nets added. Highlights were undoubtedly Subalpine Warbler, Redstart, Nightingale, Iberian Chiffchaff and all ages of Sardinian Warblers. A rather pathetic attempt to dazzle Red-necked Nightjars and catch them with a hand net calls for further practice. However, a little later, Charlie Perez was on hand to provide local knowledge, especially the peculiarities of local moult (Greenfinch juveniles apparently moult twice in the first year making aging a devil of a job). As for the Blackbirds, we have a constant flow but again they are just different from those in Somerset and each charcoal grey bird comes with its own aging characteristic.
There is no flat here and all nets are perched on rocks or along footpaths and firebreaks. Fine while the weather is cool but tiring in the afternoon sun. Although ringing in the National Park where there are no casual walkers, the presence of Barbary Macaques means that little can be left out overnight. It brings additional meaning to the phrase Poo Traps.
And while the ringing goes on, a constant stream of raptors passes overhead. Today just casual glances identified over 60 Booted Eagles at a time, accompanied by Short-toed Eagles, Black Kites and up to a dozen Sparrowhawks. The latter paid close interest to the tape lure playing Blackcap calls and some low level passes just missed the nets. Tomorrow?
Gibraltar Ringer 1
The joint Services ringing display team gets off to a cracking start with Roger Dickey, Julia and Robin Springett and Mark Cutts all arriving at Bruce's Farm on time and kicking off with erecting nets in the garden. This activity spurred on by a Red-necked Nightjar flitting about the bushes and tress in close proximity. Not exactly a huge amount of bird activity so a check on Jew's Gate to see what was happening at the southern end of the Rock and to hear how a Booted Eagle was netted that morning and mostly Pied Flies. Appropriate licences and permits secured, the afternoon saw many more Booted Eagles and a single Black Kite. A further check on the migration timetable confirmed that despite appearances, we had arrived at the right time! And then the first warbler - a male Sardinian which in the excitement of ringing anything, I forgot to photograph. Fast forward to today and the erection of another net in the garden and 12 nets at Middle Hill. Regrettably, the lack of levante (cloud over the hill and nets) prevented useful ringing during the afternoon and all return to wash down at Bruces Farm. The early morning had produced Gibraltar's complete collection of Blackbirds but even these proved different in moult, colour and behaviour. So eyes return to the skies and 63 Booted Eagles in one pass accompanied by a Short-toed Eagle and a Sparrowhawk. With 12 new nets to open tomorrow we expect great things...
CommentsSPTA West
After a short break by the tropical waters of the South Atlantic it was back to local birding. There was however a quick trip to the south coast with the AOS within a few days of returning. All the major exercises have finished so access is good to the Plain. Last week I was walking around several areas but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Corvids and pigeons still dominate the area however Ravens are now a common sight or more precisely sound. There are large flocks of Linnet and Goldfinch as well as increasing number of tit flocks. Meadow Pipits are moving through as are Swallows. There seems to be quite a migrant passage going on. Last Saturday there was a Marsh Harrier hunting along a grass ridge before being spotted by local Jackdaws that drove it off across a field with one week old lambs (destined for Waitrose). An organised walk was held covering Ranscombe Bottom and Thirteenhundred Down finishing past the grenade range. It was very quiet but still 22 species were seen including a Wheatear and Jay. Our local Peregrines did not dissapoint though one flew off before the main party had made it up the steep incline to the fence line. One was still at its nest not far from a Raven nest. A Jay ended up in the ringing nets on Monday when I joined some colleagues on Haxton Down (SPTA East). This confirmed migration was in full swing with lots of Chifchafs, Blackcaps and Meadow Pipits caught. We also caught Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting as well as several other species; I ringed my first Goldcrest. On two previous walks there did not seem to be much about and even on the day of ringing there was little actitviy in the air except for the Swallows. There was however a lot of birds caught (199 new birds in 6 hours) that showed there was a lot going on. The difficulty for observers is that the birds are feeding on the centre of vegetation and not displaying on the edges thus giving the impression that not a lot is happening. Reality is that there is a lot of movement but to those out walking there are few birds hence my statement that there was nothing out of the ordinary. Of course there is nothing ordinary about the Plain and on Saturday we found some Bastard Toadflax; a nationally scarce plant that somewhere else would have conservationists declaring the area a national nature reserve. Also reported are temporary pools with Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. The one that did get away from me, as I was at Portland, was a Great Reed Warbler ringed on the Centre which has caused quite a stir. Salisbury Plain out of the ordinary?; obviously I am not looking hard enough.
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