Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
Gibraltar Ringer 2015 - 3
Carl checking the nets
Never a good thing to believe that conditions can’t get worse because they always do, and today is no exception. This works well for Mark Cutts who, as new ringer on the block, gets all the birds to ring while the A ringers look on. This morning was, less for the heat and the one in two incline, like ringing in a country garden, with blackbird, wren, blackcap and robin first out of the nets. The sardinian warbler rather breaks the illusion but a light shower of rain also helped. While the Springetts, Carl Powell and I all expect the contrariness of a day’s ringing in Gibraltar, Steve Copsey had every right to expect a decent autumn raptor migration. Booted eagles appeared briefly with honey buzzard, common kestrel, goshawk and sparrowhawk but no further signs of lesser kestrel, osprey and short-toed eagle.
An unoccupied Robin Springett is always dangerous and after I had moved the nets a foot to the right of their original position, the constant gardener was away with the loppers and secateurs like Titchmarsh on double Red Bulls. An early return to the accommodation at Bruce’s Farm has allowed us to put up some nets in the garden, principally for Scops Owl but also for any ‘olive tree passerines’ that we can catch during the evening. If Jew’s Gate, a mile away, can catch them, so should we.
The blackbirds continue to cause problems with ageing. So simple in the UK but in Gibraltar the adults are often light grey and with speckled juvenile throat feathers. Nicely square tailed adult tail feathers are complemented by first year contrasts in wing colour. And to top it all, sexing, which is merely deciding how black are the tail feathers, is making us all question our definition of ‘black’.
Steve is still on the hill and has reported back 13 black storks so things might be beginning to move. So yet more prayers tonight for a change in wind direction; contrary to all the forecasts!
Slasher on watch looking after the ringing site
Gibraltar Ringer 2015 - 2
Slasher and Steve have arrived bringing a new dimension to activities on the Rock as well as rain and over-healthy appetites. Beer supplies have been quadrupled. There are now seven of us here in Gib, unfortunately coinciding with a real doldrums in bird activity. The Blackcaps and Sardinian Warblers are still here but the continuing westerly winds have stopped all bird movement at the north side and on the southern site at Jews Gate. But all is not lost as another Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, and Willow Warbler hit the nets. It’s hard to believe that this was our best ringing day two years ago!
One of the benefits of our site on the side of the hill has been being able to watch migration progress below us. It’s the time for Lesser Kestrels and almost on cue, one appeared today as well as a Common Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. With Steve here we should be able to get better photos and at least zoom into the high fliers.
The Macaques have forced us to drop two nets and relocate them elsewhere. We are not here to provide an adventure playground for immature monkeys and that is how they are treating the nets put up for Blue Rock Thrush. Still, it may give us a better chance at Red-necked Nightjar on a different part of the slope.
Praying that the weather changes!
CommentsGibraltar Ringer 2015 - 1
A quiet day in all respects as the bustle of Gibraltar Town can usually be heard from our ringing station perch high on the Rock. A feeling of post rugby blues hung over us and there were few birds to break the gloom. Previous days have seen large numbers of Pied Flycatchers and Blackcaps as the most common birds in the nets but several Redstarts, a Nightingale and many Sardinian Warblers have kept us on a high. A single Short-toed Treecreeper, Garden Warblers and Willow Warblers add to the picture.
The catering team of Ann Powell and Julia Springett have made it increasingly difficult to stagger up the hill but the weather has so far been benign and not scorched us to date. Further nets were added to a particularly steep piece of rock on the northern side yesterday but macaques are taking an unhealthy interest in the nets. The families of adults and very young pass by without trouble but one or two of the juvenile macaques just have to see how far they can get with testing the guy ropes. Typical adolescents.
The Royal Navy arrive tomorrow in the shapes of Mark Cutts and Steve Copsey and we are very much looking forward to seeing them both. Extra rations have been bought!
CommentsSouth Africa
I have a signal once again but I am now in Kwa-Zulu Natal. I travelled back to Johannesburg once again dipping on the Taita Falcon as the female died and the malehad disappeared. The next day I visited the Bird Reserve at Marievale. This desolate spot next to a mine where a gale was blowing introduced me to water birds including Hottentot Teal, Levaillant's Cisticola, a range of Bishops, White-bellied Duck and Marsh Warbler. The next day was adrive to Wakkerstroom on the border with KZN. There was time before last light to visit the lakes and reeds after picking up African Darter and Caspian Tern at the lunch stop. There were South African Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge. An African Marsh Harrier swept the reedbeds and a pair of Black-crowned Night Herons were a star with some other birders. I was more interested in the Long-tailed Widowbird and African Rail. The next day we went out with a guide named Lucky. We did quite a few miles on dirt roads but we did see some nice birds including to start with Denham's and White-bellied Bustard. All 4 Ibises were seen; Hadeda, Sacred, Bald and Glossy. In addition we saw Botha's, Red-naped, Red-capped, Rudd's, Clapper and Spike-heeled Larks. There were Secretarybird, Blue Khoran, Blue Crane, Grey-crowned Crane, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Cape Longclaw and Ground Woodpecker. Back at the water I saw Black Crake and African Swamphen. The birds came thick and fast and it was wonderful weather. This morning was a quick visit to the water where a Red-chested Flufftail appeared out of the reeds. It was then a drive south to Howick where a new set of birds awaited including an African Harrier Hawk, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Southern Boubou, Spectacle Weaver and White-rumped Swallow. I am now at 202 species for the trip and will be leaving at 5.45 to go out for a couple of hours before it gets too hot. Once again the weather has been kind and Wakkerstroom will be remembered as a birder's paradise.
CommentsSouth Africa
It is 36 degrees celcius in the shade as I write this sitting on a veranda overloking the Olifants River in one of a number of private game reserves bordering the Kruger Par. Nyala have just walked past and an African Fish Eagle is circling above. I arrived in Johannesburg last Wednesday and was met at Standton Station by my host Tom. We sat in his garden watching Rosy-faced Lovebird, Masked Weaver, Karoo Thrush and Cape Sparrow and several more before going out for lunch where a Fiscal Flycatcher kept us entertained. Afterwards we visited Liliesleaf where the executive of the ANC were arrested in what was the Rivonia Trial. The next morning we headed east with Tom’s friend where I managed to pick up a few larger birds from the back of the car before we stopped at the Taiata Falcon site. Micheal our guide could not find the bird that day but he did show us a Mountain Wagtail, Half-collared Kingfisher and a Green-backed Camarpotera. We then headed for the Game Reserve were we settled in before going out in the open vehicle for a evening and night drive. It is the same programme each day with morning and evening drives except last Saturday where the pool area was packed for the SA rugby game and deserted as I watched England lose. During the time here I have seen a lot of 4 of the big 5 less Leopard. There have been fighting giraffe, large herds of elephant, vultures on a kill and a good range of birds that have to be seen from the vehicle; it is too dangerous to get out and walk. Highlights have included Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Arrow-marked Babbler, Marico Sunbird, Golden-breasted Bunting, Brubru, Water Thick-knee, Black-backed Puffback, Long-billed Crombec, Blue Waxbill, Green Wood-hoopoe, Crested Barbet, Acacia Pied Barbet, Bateleur, Mocking Cliff Chat and Pels Fishing Owl. There are lots to mention that include a whole host of other birds and animals including vultures, eagles, kingfishers, waders and quite a few LBJs as well as antelopes. It is now time for a swim today rather than use the outdoor shower. I hope to keep you updated on my trip and my list stands at 102 birds this afternoon.
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