Summer Solstice ringing.

Overview.

Kenny Cramer is one of the senior ringers with Northants Ringing Group (NRG) and is the ringer in-charge of the Linford Lakes Nature Reserve site. Although this site is in North Buckinghamshire, as a bird flies it is right on the border with Northamptonshire, and therefore with British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) permission, we use NRG rings on this site.

Narrative and pictures courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Early start.

Today was the summer solstice, and the longest day of the year brought us two things - a 2am alarm call... and plenty of birds! Luckily, ringers were also in plentiful supply this week as we set about processing 111 birds of 22 species, 94 of which were newly ringed, the majority being comprised of newly fledged youngsters.

 On the warbler front, we encountered 25 chiffchaffs, 18 blackcaps, 8 reed warblers (one of which was ringed elsewhere in the UK), 3 sedge warblers (our first of the year), 3 cetti's warblers, 2 garden warblers, and a whitethroat. Mercifully we were not over-titted with "only" 13 blue tits and 5 great tits. A roving gang of long-tailed tits remained out of range.

 

Reed Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Adding to the variety were two kingfishers, two treecreepers, a jay, a woodpigeon, a juvenile great-spotted woodpecker, and an imposing carrion crow. To top things off, we added another 2 new cuckoos (male and female) bringing this year's tally to 7.

Cuckoos

Carrion Crow

Tally for the day. 

Figures in brackets denote re-traps (birds ringed previously).

Blackbird 3 (1) Blue Tit 12 (1) Blackcap 18 Wren 6 (1) Robin 8 (1) Jay 1 Whitethroat 1
Dunnock 1 Chiffchaff 22 (3) Carrion Crow 1 Sonth Thrush 1 Treecreeper 2 Kingfisher 2
Great Tit 5 Garden Warbler 1 (1) Reed Warbler 1 (8) Cuckoo 2 Cetti’s Warbler 1 (2) Greenfinch 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Sedge Warbler 3

Red Kites

 Courteenhall Private Estate.

Ringing Red Kites.

After his recent foray into Norfolk our Group Chair, Chris Payne, this week ventured onto the private Courteenhall Estate with the aim of ringing some young Red Kites. Chris has worked with the estate staff for some time, monitoring the Owl boxes and after considerable planning , it was finally assessed that the young kites were of a ringable size. The ringing was again carried out under strict Schedule 1 regulations, because although Red Kites are a familier sight these days in our skies, they are still a protected species.

Scaling the tree.

To reach the Red Kite nest Chris enlisted the help of Dylan Donnelly, who holds a City & Guilds Certificate in Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue. Dylan scaled the tree and deftly passed the young Kites down, using large black cotton bags to keep them calm and after the rings were fitted the young were hauled back up as quickly as possible and returned to the nest.

Dylan Donnelly at the nest.

Ringing.

Red Kites take a large ring and young birds can take a larger ring than full grown adults because their legs are fleshier. Fitting these rings requires lengthy training, to ensure that the right amount of pressure is applied to close the ring properly, without harming the bird. The picture below shows a G ring on the left, used for adults and an H ring on the right which may be used on young birds after inspection of the leg by the ringer. Also shown are the pliers used to fit the ring. At the time of ringing other biometric data will be collected such as weight and wing length.

Pliers and rings

Outcome.

The mornings activities were successful, with three young Kites being ringed and returned to the nest and the thanks of Northants Ringing Group goes to Courteenhall Estate for allowing access to the estate.

Young Red Kite

Norfolk Marsh Harriers.

Last week Chris Payne, Chair of Northants Ringing Group (NRG) and one of his trainees, Suzy Boys, ventured into the wilds of Norfolk to ring Marsh Harrier nestlings, under Schedule 1 licence.

To get to the nests required wading through long grass and using telescopic ladders to traverse deep, muddy ditches.

Four nest sites were located and a total of ten chicks were ringed, which more than made up for strenuous efforts of reaching the nests and the resultant nettle stings.

Young Marsh Harriers

Ringing.

Each young bird is fitted with a uniquely numbered metal ring, the details of which are entered onto the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) database, Demography Online (DemOn). Marsh Harriers are an Amber Listed species on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) listing, and all data helps build a picture of the breeding success for these wonderful birds.

Placing a ring on a young Marsh Harrier

Chris Payne with young Marsh Harrier

Simon Wantling Wildlife Photographer

Owl monitoring.

Simon Wantling is a new trainee with Northants Ringing Group (NRG), who has a passion for Owls and wildlife photography.

Prior to contacting Northants Ringing Group Simon had been erecting Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, and Kestrel nest boxes in Bedfordshire, working with local farmers who use regenerative farming practices, and all the boxes are fitted with remote cameras, so that he can gain evidence as to whether the farming practices are working, and to gain a greater insight into their lives. To date Simon has twenty boxes that he monitors, with a further ten planned for this year, ready for next year’s breeding season.

Kestrel, Tawny Owl and Barn Owl boxes

Simon Wantling installing a Tawny Owl Box

Using the Reolink network Simon can monitor these boxes remotely and has obtained some remarkable footage, like a young Tawny Owl fledging from the box, and Barn Owls at their favoured nest box.

Since retirement Simon is now able to devote his time to wildlife photography as Simon Wantling Wildlife Photographer, and his owl studies as SW Wildlife Monitoring.

Retirement has also allowed Simon to commence his ringing training, and he is currently being trained by Group Chair Chris Payne, who is himself monitoring a number of owl boxes on estates in Northamptonshire and Norfolk.

To see some of the fantastic images that Simon has captured visit www.simonwantling.co.uk