Bird Ringing at Hosehill lake, Theale. 4th July 2010

[rolf]

Reading and Basingstoke Ringing hosted an excellent demonstration morning, being both fun and informative. Tim Ball, Paul James, Karen Tucker and Debora Arlt provided a running commentary on the ringing, identifying key recognition points, explaining handling and ringing techniques and topped it off with the odd amusing anecdote.

The weather was dry and mostly sunny, (with perhaps a slightly higher breeze than is ideal), this prompted an excellent turnout and it was nice to see some children plainly enjoying the demonstration.

Arrived with Louise and met up with Eddy, nice to put a face to a name, not sure if any other members were there, as there are many I've never met.

News from Tim, Altogether 126 birds were netted, 17 different species

• Great Spotted Woodpecker - Ring 3 Retrap 0
• Dunnock - Ring 4 Retrqp 1
• Robin - Ring 3 Retrap 0
• Blackbird - Ring 5 Retrap 1
• Reed Warbler - Ring 7 Retrap 0
• Sedge warbler - Ring 1 Retrap 0
• Garden Warbler - Ring 4 Retrap 0
• Blackcap - Ring 5 Retrap 0
• Whitethroat - Ring 2 Retrap 0
• Chiffchaff - - Ring 1 Retrap 0
• Blue tit - Ring 21 Retrap 5
• Great Tit - Ring 47 Retrap 8
• Treecreeper - Ring 1 Retrap 0
• Nuthatch - Ring 1 Retrap 0
• Chaffinch - Ring 3 Retrap 0
• Greenfinch - Ring 2 Retrap 0
• Reed Bunting - Ring 1 Retrap 0
• Totals - Ring 111 Retrap 15

Here are a few photos from the morning.

• Bolshy Great Tit
  
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
  
• Transitional Robin
  
• Bird Collection Bags
  
• Young Nuthatch
  
• Removing birds from the mist nets
  

[PaulSmith]

Sounds an interesting morning. Some great shots there

[Eddy Lerpiniere]

Had a great time today with Louise & Rolf, even if I did start out a little early to size the place up, but a good selection of birds, nice people from the ringers and a fair sized audience throughout the day. Nice meeting you Louise and Rolf.

[Eddy Lerpiniere]

I've just noticed Rolf that your Nuthatch shot taken at a slightly different angle to mine has an entirely different colour, presumably from the angle of the incident light. I've even checked mine again in PSE and there's no colour whatsoever in the plumage on mine, funny that.

[rolf]

Yes, was looking at that Eddy, what white balance setting were you using? If you look at the hand in your shot, it's brought out the reds, which will make the blue look grey.

PS. Just revisited mine and looks like they may have picked up some blue from the blue T shirts behind, have adjusted blue level down a little now, but still a lot more blue than yours.

[ladylouise62]

Yep, a lovely morning, finished off with a walk around the lake.. and really nice to meet you Eddie... always nice to put a face to the name. It's also fascinating to see how we all got the same moments but form different angles (N.B. I named my shots with the bird ID)
Just a couple of mine to start with as I've been a little preoccupied.

***EDIT - I just realised that I named the 4th photo wrongly - it's a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

[Eddy Lerpiniere]

I was using a custom white balance set with an Expodisc. Must say I've not had any problem with it before and when I was shooting the bird I thought to myself that It looked very brown even when I wasn't looking through the viewfinder. When I first saw it I tried moving the colour point but it didn't change to blue at any time.

[rolf]

Must be to do with the angle of the light then Eddy, as I've checked the other elements of the photo and they look pretty much spot on colour wise..

[joe]

Looks like you all had a good morning. Lovely pics.

[rolf]

Certainly did Joe, we'll make sure that you can get to the next one.

Here are some more shots.

• Blackbird puts the bite on ringer
  
• Blackcap Juvenile
  
• Chaffinch Juvenile
  
• Dunnock
  
• Great Spotted Woodpecker
  
• Reed Bunting
  
• Reed Warbler
  
• Juvenile Whitethroat
  
  

Note that both Blackcaps have been feasting on some red berries and still carry the staining, we later saw someone with a bag full of freshly picked cherries, so they had probably found the same tree.

[Catherine]

What a great day you must have had!

Wonderful pics from all of you too!

Thanks for posting them.

[Alepou]

Now that would be something I'd really like to see. Oh well, I guess I have to make do with your excellent pictures.

[Eddy Lerpiniere]

Now that would be something I'd really like to see. Oh well, I guess I have to make do with your excellent pictures.

You could always ask someone to come and give you a lift!!!!!! LOL

[Alepou]

LOL LOL LOL LOL Do you mean to volunteer, Eddy?

[Eddy Lerpiniere]

Yes if you're paying the travel costs

[rolf]

I'm sure they have demos in Germany Carin, may be worth emailing them to find out. Contact European Ringing Schemes

[ladylouise62]

Here are a few shots of the ringers and their equipment.
As well as ringing unringed birds and registering already-ringed ones, they establish: ID, sex, age, stage of moult, weight, wing length ... and whatever else I can't remember

[ladylouise62]

...and a few more bird shots. It includes a Greenfinch which they wouldn't normally show to the audience as it's rather nervous bird - but this one was apparently unusually calm.

[ladylouise62]

...and last but not least - the birds sometimes didn't 'play ball'

[rolf]

Nice shots there Louise, nice that you've got a full shot of the table and also the Greenfinch which was hopelessly blurred in my shots. Like the one with the camera intentionally left in, it actually makes the shot.

[ladylouise62]

I also love the grumpy look on the bird's face as he is offered up to the camera Yes, I thought that I would catch more than just the birds so as to tell the whole story.

[rolf]

Here are the last of my shots from the bird ringing:

• Blue tit gets nippy, you've got to love them
  
  
• Greenfinch
  

[ladylouise62]

You managed to get a decent Greenfinch shot there... and lovely shots of the Blue Tit - bite included

[rolf]

Yes, didn't realise I'd got one without a mobile phone or compact camera in the way.

[ladylouise62]

It's great going through your shots afterwards and finding that you got something better than you thought.