Farmland Ringing

On Tuesday morning I carried out the first visit to Eastfield Farm in Lound as part of a study being carried out by Waveney Bird Club on the effectiveness of different wild bird seed strips. Given my mist net restriction as a C ringer this visit was carried out with the aim of determining which bird species are present along with those that may be captured when using the plot visited. If sufficient numbers of birds were seen then further visits will be made with a team in order to increase the amount of mists nets used to facilitate the capture of a more representative sample.

The particular plot visited is in the region of 0.25 ha and deciding where to erect two mist nets in the dark was always going to be a blind decision and after the first light of dawn had broken and birds were starting to use the seed strip it very quickly became clear that one net was clearly in a less than optimal position. Walking the plot saw a large mixed flock of finches and thrushes rise from the adjacent hedgerow and fly over the plot and disperse in more distant hedgerows. Moving the net was however, rewarded with the capture of two fantastic Yellowhammers which are one of the four target species for the project; the other three being Reed Bunting, Linnet and Tree Sparrow.

The session was a success with two target species - Reed Bunting as well as Yellowhammer - being caught along with a mixed catch of common woodland and garden species. Many birds were using the seed strip throughout the morning and were still active when I left the study site at midday. Further interest was aroused by a large flock of 40 - 50 Skylarks flying around and alighting in stubble that has been left standing.

    Adult (4), male Yellowhammer                     First winter (3), male Reed Bunting

The project requires one visit every month to each study plot between November 2011 and March 2012 and considering the success of this pilot visit I will be looking forward to returning with a team in December.

Totals - 28 new, (1) retrap

Dunnock - 3

Robin - 2, (1) control X547854

Blackbird - 1

Song Thrush - 1

Blue Tit - 8

Great Tit - 2

Chaffinch - 6

Yellowhammer - 2

Reed Bunting - 2