Ringing Demonstration

Despite a rather poor weather forecast the rearranged ringing demonstration given by Tim Ball on 8th November was a great success - this is his report together with a few photographs:

12-15 visitors came to Padworth Common for the mist netting and ringing demonstration and seemed to enjoy it and find it interesting. Overall 49 birds of 8 species were caught. A Marsh Tit attracted quite a bit of attention given recent discussions about distinguishing them from Willow Tits, it showed all the classic in-hand features and even had visible unmoulted greater coverts allowing it to be easily aged as a juvenile.

The retraps including some quite interesting birds:

• A Great Tit which had been ringed at Padworth in 2006 and but hasn't been retrapped in-between times
• A juvenile Blue Tit ringed in July 4 km away by one of our team in their garden in Burghfield Common
• A juvenile Blue Tit ringed September 3 km away at Aldermaston Gravel Pits by Newbury Ringing Group
• Two Great Tits ringed as chicks at Padworth as part of our ongoing nest box study

The Blue Tits illustrate the late summer/autumn local dispersal of Blue and Great Tit juveniles

Tim Ball and Karen with a Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Marsh Tit

Tim Ball - 11 November 2009