Portstewart Strand 04/06/2015

At 6am this morning the conditions were overcast, mild (10°C), dry and the wind was coming from the south-east at around 5-6mph.  The forecast had said the rain would start to arrive after midday but unfortunately it arrived early and I had to pack up at 10am.

 

Again it was pretty quiet and it will probably remain that way until late summer, when the birds are on the move again.  The only things of note were the 100's of Starlings roaming about in noisy flocks (which thankfully avoided the gorse nets), 2 Greylag Geese and 3 Grey Herons.  The Otter was again busy fishing in its favoured spot and I spotted my first Cinnabar moth of the year.  The first fledglings of the year were scattered about with 1 Robin, 4 Stonechat, 3 Goldfinch and a couple of Meadow pipits. 

Meadow Pipit

In terms of ringing it was slow and only one juvenile bird hit the nets - a Meadow Pipit.  Breeding is evidently late, as with much of the UK but there should be a flood (hopefully) of juveniles to come over the next month or two.  Four new Blackcaps (2 pairs) is always good, which seem to be holding territory beside the net rides. 


Ringing Totals 04/06/2015

                                        New         Retrap         

Blackcap                           4

Bullfinch                                              3   

Chaffinch                         1                  1

Dunnock                                              1                      

Meadow Pipit                   1                

Song Thrush                    1

Willow Warbler                1                  2

Wren                                                    2                                    

Total                                8                 9