Manor Farm Bird Ringing - February 2015

Saturday 14th February
This weekend has been fairly hectic for me. It started with a low tide wader count on a part of Portsmouth Harbour Saturday morning, which was fairly uninspiring. There were small numbers of Redshank, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and a few duck and geese species, the most numerous being Dark-bellied Brent Goose. It was nice to see a few Goldeneye and Red-brested Mergansers, as I don't often see them around Hill Head or on my patch. Three adult Mediterranean Gulls, two in winter plumage one in full summer, were the highlight for me though.

After the wader count I headed to Manor Farm Country Park to set nets for the planned mornings ringing session. I was joined by Rob and Megan and we put up six nets and then furled them in readiness for the morning session. We did catch four birds in the process, one new House Sparrow, two Dunnocks, one of which was a retrap and one Robin. Whilst putting up the nets a large flock of mainly Black-headed Gulls flew over, I picked out one adult winter Mediterranean Gull, but nothing else. We had hoped to catch some Fieldfares or Redwings as they went in to roost, but there were very few birds around. A flock of 40 Fieldfare was the most I had seen in a while, but there was less than 10 Redwing around.

As the sun began to set the resident Little Owls started to get active, and were putting on a very vocal display. We eventually tracked down two birds; they were sat together preening each other whilst making and variety of squeaks and squeals to acknowledge their appreciation. Other birds were flying around the main car park and we estimated at least four birds being present.

Sunday 15th February
Sunday morning began with a pre-dawn start for me Chris, Rob and Megan and as we arrived we were serenaded by the resident Tawny Owls. The Tawny activity seemed to inspire the Little Owls again as they started calling again, but only for a while. The ringing session was fairly mundane as there were very few birds but the total did include six new House Sparrows so some new additions to my RAS project. We also caught 11 retraps which included one bird that was ringed over five years ago and one that was ringed 4 years ago.

A total of 34 birds were caught which included one Wood Pigeon, six Dunnocks, three of which were retraps, four Robins, two Blackbirds, one retrap, a Song Thrush, Chaffinch and a few Blue Tits.

In the afternoon I opened a net at home and added another 21 birds. The highlights were another male Chaffinch and a Greenfinch, but the total included two Long-tailed Tits, a Dunnock and a selection of new and retrap Blue and Great Tits. Of the Blue Tits one was originally ringed 3 years 256 days previously and another 5 years 189 days previously. One of the retrap Great Tits had been ringed 3 years 115 days previously.

Over the course of the weekend we caught 63 birds of 12 species, with 38 new birds and 26 retraps. It was disappointing not to catch any Redwing or Fieldfares, but they should be around for a few weeks yet.

A retrap Little Owl, Redwings and Firecrests at Manor Farm Country Park

After the success of last weekend, this morning Rob and I headed back to Manor Farm Country Park for some more ringing. Our plan was to try and catch more House Sparrows and Redwings, so it was a pre-dawn start to set the nets. As it turned out it was a bit breezy and so we were unable to set some of our usual nets, and instead had to settle for setting some in more sheltered locations. We had instant success on the first round, with two new Redwings and a Little Owl. The Little Owl was one of the birds that we had caught back in early November; it had put on some weight since when it was last caught, but the best thing was being able to get a good look at it in daylight.

Little Owl - Manor Farm Country Park

Little Owl - Manor Farm Country Park

The second net round produced another two Redwings and eleven Long-tailed Tits, but as the wind was really starting to pick up now we decided to call it a day at the farm and move into the woods.

Redwing - Manor Farm Country Park

Last winter I had regularly seen Firecrests in the woods at Manor Farm, particularly where evergreen shrubbery, such as Holly and Yew, was present, so we decided to go and see if any were there this winter. We only had about an hour so stopped off at a couple of likely places; the first location produced a male Firecrest, in the same bush as last year, although it was not the same bird as this one was a first year bird. 

Male Firecrest - Manor Farm Country Park

The second location also proved to have a Firecrest present, another male and also three Goldcrests. These are the fifth and sixth Firecrests I have caught since the beginning of November, and may not be the last of the year. I have now finished work until the new year and hope to get out and search for more.

Male Firecrest - Manor Farm Country Park

Female Goldcrest (left) and Male Firecrest (right) - Manor Farm Country Park

Three of a Kind and a Little Fire Cracker - November 2014

Wednesday 5th November began with a pre-work ringing session in the grounds of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's, Curdridge office. I am very fortunate to work in this semi-rural location, and to have one of my trainees working out of the same office as we are able to grab an hours ringing before work. This was our first session of the winter, and what a way to start, a cracking male Firecrest, on a date reserved for celebrating Guy Fawkes. This bird is surely better than any fireworks display. The remainder of the session was quiet by comparison with a total of four birds caught, the other notable being a female Nuthatch.

Male Firecrest - Curdridge, Hampshire

Fuelled by the success of the morning, I went to Manor Farm Country Park straight after work. I had planned to meet Izzy Phillips there and we were aiming to check to see whether the Little Owls were around, and if so where they were. However, as the weather was so still, and I had my ringing kit with me, we put up a couple of nets. Both Tawny and Little Owls were active, but it was a single Little Owl that appeared first in the net.

Little Owl - Manor Farm Country Park

We were pretty chuffed with our immediate success, but were stunned to return to the net and find another two birds in it. I have previously caught two birds on an evening session, but never three.

Little Owl - Manor Farm Country Park

I have spent many hours wandering around Manor Farm Country Park at night and often encounter Little Owls running around on the fields. All three birds had wet and muddy talons suggesting that they too had been out on the fields in search of food.

Little Owl Talons

On the whole I have found ageing Little Owls to be quite straight forward, particularly with those birds caught in the autumn, since they often retain downy feathers around the nape. According to Baker (1993), the moult strategy of Little Owls is a follows;

Age code 3 - "Partial post-juvenile moult, starting soon after fledging, confined to the head, body, lesser and median-coverts; July, completed by September, October (November)."

Adult - "Complete post breeding moult starting as early as (May) June - July and completed by September or early or early November. Secondaries moult from three centres, usually around s12, s5 and s1. Tail is shed almost simultaneously."

There is slight sexual size dimorphism, with females being on average slightly larger than males, but there is a fair amount of overlap and therefore it is not really reliable.

The first bird we aged as an age code 3 (juvenile, bird of this year). See the image below; 

Adults and first winters are described in Baker as being similar in appearance, but in juveniles mesoptile down is often present on the inner-most tertials. The white spots on the head are bolder and more rounded and the white tip on p10, the outermost primary extends onto the inner web.

I have to admit I found the white spots on the head of all three birds very variable, and there was some evidence of a white tip on the primaries of two of the birds. However, looking at the overall plumage of the three birds, I was confident that that they were all first winters based on the following features.

Wing of Little Owl, showing presumed moult limit

With the first bird it was evident that it had undergone its post juvenile moult. The primaries, secondaries, tertials and primary coverts are gingery brown in colour, whereas the body, head and wing coverts, greater, median and lesser are dark brown in colour. This indicates to me that the main wing feathers (primary, secondary and tertials) have not been moulted as would be expected for a juvenile bird.

Little Owl tail, with one replacement tail feather

To further confirm this assessment, this bird has replaced a single tail feather, which it has probably lost accidentally, rather than through typical moult. The colour difference in the replaced feather and retained juvenile feathers is evident, as is the difference in the broadness, shape of the tip and extent of abrasion on the tips.

Wing of Little Owl, showing presumed moult limit

The second and third birds seem to show the same moult limit, albeit not as obviously as the first bird. In the image below it is again possible to see a contrast in the replaced adult type covert feathers and the gingery coloured primaries, primary coverts, secondaries and tertials.

Wing of Little Owl, showing presumed moult limit

For comparison below are a couple of images of an adult bird that I caught a couple of years ago, at a similar time of year. The lack of contrast between the main wing feathers and coverts is evident, as is the shape, pattern and broadness of p10. Another obvious feature is the size of the white spot, and general shape and pattern on the primary coverts in this adult bird, compared with the lack of it, or smaller size on all three of the juvenile birds.

Adult Little Owl - Note colour of wing feathers and lack of contrast and moult limit

Adult Little Owl - Note shape and pattern of p10 (outermost primary feather

More Little Owls at Manor Farm - 29th November 2012

With the weather set fair, the sky clear and no wind it was off to Manor Farm for a spot of nocturnal bird ringing. In previous years this time of year has proved to be an ideal time to catch little owls, so we set our nets and waited. A barn owl was screeching as we put the nets up, and a tawny owl called in the distance, but otherwise it was quiet. A stroll around the fields produced a couple of calling lapwing, and then it was back to the nets and.......a little owl.

Juvenile Little Owl

During previous nocturnal ringing sessions at Manor Farm we have had mixed success, and have so far ringed five new birds and retrapped one; in 2011 three new birds were ringed, this year one of last years birds has been retrapped, until last night that is. 

Little Owl wing showing Juvenile Primary Coverts

According to Baker (1993) Identification Guide to European Non-passerines, juvenile little owls undergo a partial moult, that starts soon after fledging and is confined to the head, body lesser and median coverts. However, adult birds undergo a complete post breeding moult that usually starts as early as June or July and continues through to September or October, occasionally November.

Juvenile Primary Coverts

This bird was evidently a juvenile since it had moulted the majority of its wing coverts with the exception of the primary coverts and some feathers in the crown and nape. The difference in the shape of the primary coverts and their colouration can be seen in the two images above.

Pointed Tips to Primary Coverts

Another feature of juvenile birds is the shape and patterning of the outer-most primary, in juvenile birds this feather is pointed with a white tip to the inner and outer webs. In adult birds the outer-most feather is rounded at the tip with the outer web only, showing a white tip. Interestingly, this bird did not show a white tip to the inner web of the outer-most primary, but the tip of the feather was still pointed, therefore it is worth being cautious with this feature.

Still no Woodcocks but a Little Owl saves the day.....

After a long day in the office I was keen to get out for some more nocturnal activity and so it was back Manor Farm. But rather that just trying to catch Woodcocks I decided to put some nets up with the hope of catching any passing owls, in particular the resident Little Owls. I set three nets and waited to see what would happen!!

Little Owl - February 2012

The first hour passed pretty slowly, Little Owls were around but proving to be elusive, so we decided to take the nets down and go off in search of Woodcocks, but as we approached the final net success.....a Little Owl!!

Little Owl - February 2012

Regular readers of this blog may recognise this bird, since it was a retrap that was originally captured one year and one day ago. In 2011 it was aged as an adult so it is at least two years old, looking at the first picture it didn't look very happy about being captured again!

Enthused by our success we trudged off around the fields in search of Woodcocks, but once again failed. We flushed six Woodcock and three Lapwing, but caught nothing......very frustrating!!!

Today, I had to travel to East Sussex for a survey, and as I walked around the site I managed to flush nine Woodcock, it was almost like they were rubbing salt into the wound!!! I continued with the survey, and noticed in an area of woodland the remains of another!! In the absence of any live specimens to examine, it gave me the ideal opportunity to have a go at ageing it.

Eurasian Woodcock Wing

Given that I only had nine primaries and seven primary coverts to work with I thought it might be difficult to age, but despite my limited experience with the species it seemed quite straight forward.

Eurasian Woodcock Primary Covert Tips

Apparently the tips of the primary coverts in adults have a flat profile with a pale terminal band, whereas juvenile coverts have a more rounded profile, with the terminal band the same colour as the rest of the feather....as above. The primary tips in adults show very little wear and have a clean profile, whereas they are worn and jagged in profile in juveniles....as below.

Eurasian Woodcock Primary Tips

Assuming I have aged this wing correctly it looks like this individual was a juvenile bird before it was eaten. I have no idea what had caught it but whatever it was, its having better success than me at catching Woodcocks at the moment!!!

Little Owls at Manor Farm, October 2011

With the rapidly shortening days and the subsequent dark evenings, I have decided not to become an inactive couch potato, and am going to spend the dark evenings in search of birds.......and whatever else might be on offer!! On Saturday 15th October we ventured out in search of waders, but unfortunately due to people letting fireworks off over the mudflats all of the waders present were flushed so we resorted to catching a ringing an adult Mute Swan.

Not deterred by our unsuccessful attempt at waders, we headed down to Manor Farm in search of Little Owls. There are few pairs around the farm so we thought we would get there early, before they emerged from there daytime roost.....and we was not to be disappointed. We decided to put up five nets in areas where we have watched Little Owls before, and as we put up the last net...there was a Little Owl watching us.

Adult Little Owl - Manor Farm October 2011

The bird sat there for a while before flying off over the adjacent building, around the back of it and straight into one of our nets.....instant success!!! In the UK the subspecies which occurs is Athene noctua vidalii, it has generally grey-brown upperparts and heavy longitudinal stripes on the underparts.

Adult Little Owl - Manor Farm October 2011

According to Baker (1993), juvenile birds can be aged by the presence of a white tip on the inner web of primary 10, and bold white spots on the crown. Well, we found the crown spot feature slightly subjective, but the lack of white on the inner web of primary 10 clearly aged this bird as an adult.

Primaries Showing Lack of with Spot on Inner Web of Primary 10

Ageing was confirmed by the fact that this bird was in wing moult. Again according to Baker, adults undergo a complete moult post breeding which starts as early as May and is completed by September through to early November. 

Wing of Little Owl showing Moult Limit in Secondaries - October 2011

Juvenile birds however undergo a partial post juvenile moult, which commences just after fledging and is confined to the head, body, lesser and medium coverts.

Wing of Second Little Owl - October 2011

We could hear a couple of Little Owls calling elsewhere on the site but it was not until we went to take our nets down that we caught our second. This bird was also an adult, since it lacked the white spot on the inner web of primary 10 and was again in primary moult.

Little Owl, Manor Farm - October 2011

Again, according to Baker it is possible to sex individuals on wing length, with adult males averaging 163mm, with a range of 158-169mm and adult females averaging 166mm, with a range of 161-173. Both our birds were probably females with wing lengths of 171 and 169, the latter bird appeared to have an old brood patch.

Fulmars, Dippers and Little Owls - February 2011

Things have been a bit hectic of late and subsequently I have not had the chance to write any new posts, but the weather is grim outside this morning, so it seems like an opportune moment to update. Since my last post I have had a weekend in Cornwall, have done two Timed Tetrad Visits (for the BTO Atlas) and after a three week break, got to go ringing at Manor Farm Country Park.

Visits to Cornwall have been a regular thing for me over the last 30 years since my wife's family come from Boscastle. Over the years I have walked the valley's and the cliffs and have seen a few good birds, but this visit was more about just having a break and enjoying the local beer. The weather was not good on the journey down from Hampshire, and thick fog over Bodmin Moor made driving very difficult. But on Saturday morning the sky had cleared, the sun was blazing down and there seemed to be little wind....so ideal time for a walk.

We began our walk with a look out over the cliffs to the west of Boscastle and up Pentagon. On calm days this is a good place to look out for harbour porpoises or dolphins, but today, despite the lack of wind, there was an amazing swell on the sea. The waves were crashing against the base of the cliffs and creating spectacular displays of spray.

Crashing Waves, Boscastle February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin 

Given that it was still early February, I was a little surprised to see so many of the breeding birds back on the cliffs. Guillemots and razorbills were back of their precarious ledges, herring gulls  were bickering over their nesting sites on the vegetated slopes and a single great black-backed gull commandeered top spot, and idly watched the goings on beneath....no doubt keeping a beady eye out for a tasty morsel! But for me, the highlight was to see fulmars back on the cliffs.

Fulmars Settled on Cliffs in Boscastle February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin  

The northern fulmar is a member of the shearwater/albatross family and birds spend the winter on the high seas, scavenging on any scraps that come their way. Like the other members of their family, their distinctive straight wings and habit of flying very low to the water, make them easy to pick out when compared with the lumbering flight of gulls. They breed on cliffs and this is the best time to see them at close quarters as they use the air currents to practice their aerial acrobatics.....

Fulmar, Boscastle ©T. D. Codlin

.......and give wannabe photographers the chance to practice their skills!!

Fulmar, Boscastle ©T. D. Codlin

After a swift pub stop, well maybe not that swift, it was off up the Valency Valley in search of dippers. The valley is a great place to see this species, and personally I have never failed to see them there.

Valency Valley, Boscastle 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

Looking at the above image, it is difficult to imagine that in 2004 this valley was decimated by a flood. The volume of water was such that the valley bottom was totally underwater, trees were ripped up and the vegetation washed away. Further downstream cars were washed into the sea and buildings were knocked down. Afterwards the gently meandering river had been replaced by a large straight scar through the valley bottom. Four years on though, its looking more like before. During the transitional period the dippers have remained in residence, and the  lack of vegetation in places has in fact made them easier to see.

Dipper, Valency Valley February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

A new embankment formed by the torrent of water during the flood in 2004 has proved to be a very popular nesting site in recent years. This provides the ideal location for watching and photographing this often elusive species.

Dipper, Valency Valley February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

The above images show the rusty-brown feathers beneath the white bib which are a distinctive feature of the British, Irish and Central European subspecies. In North-west France and Northern Europe these feathers are dark brown.

Dipper, Valency Valley February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

The above individual spent ages sat on this rock; it was the only place where the sun was penetrating so I guess this bird was making the most of the additional warmth on offer. I was able to get quite close, and loved the way the light fell on the bird and the rock.

Back in Hampshire for the weekend of 19/20th February, and it was back down to Manor Farm Country Park for some bird ringing. The weekend began with an evening visit to try to catch some owls; there are at least two pairs of little owl on the park, so that species was to be the target. I put the nets up in a gap between two buildings, as I have seen owls flying between these buildings previously, and........

Adult Female Little Owl Manor Farm CP February 2011  ©T. D. Codlin

........within half and hour we had one. I would like to point out that the neatly manicured nails and delicate hands are not mine but Izzy's, who is one of my enthusiastic trainees. This is only the third Little Owl I have caught at this site, the two previous were captured in 2003 and 2006, in the middle of the day.

Adult Female Little Owl Manor Farm CP February 2011  ©I. R. Phillips

Stupidly I left my camera at home, but was saved by Izzy who had luckily brought hers (these are my old gnarled hands!!!). When you look at the size of this bird in relation to my hands you can see what a compact little bird it is.

Adult Female Little Owl Manor Farm CP February 2011  ©I. R. Phillips

The following morning we were back at Manor Farm CP for an early morning ringing session. In all we captured 28 birds, which included a haul of 12 redwing and the usual blue and great tits. Several birds were re-trapped, with the highlight being a long-tailed tit which was originally captured in December 2006 (4 years and 59 days before) and a dunnock which was originally captured in July 2007 (3 years 226 days before).

The session ended with another little corker...a treecreeper. This is another species which I don't catch very often, and this individual was the eighth to be have captured at Manor Farm.

Treecreeper, Manor Farm CP February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin