I've just been too busy to update the blog this weekend, especially on Saturday when I was up for 23 hours!
A brief seawatch on Friday evening produced 3 roseate terns and 2 little terns as well as 7 red throated divers.
On Friday I did another territory mapping survey, again in less than ideal conditions. I arrived at Druridge at 5.30, as had a sea fret, it cleared by 7.40 and then brightened up to be a real scorcher! I'm finding both house sparrows and tree sparrows that nest over by the hamlet are both feeding in the bushes at Druridge, must be a better supply of caterpillars there. Nothing else of great note, there are now three singing whitethroats.
On Saturday, Janet and I were ringing for only the second time this year. A calm morning soon brightened up to another hot day, which brought the plebs flocking down to Druridge with their England flags waving from knackered Corsas - makes you proud!
I had to go to work at 9am, but in total we caught 24 birds (19 new ones and 5 retraps) including our first sedge warbler of the year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Nloi4A1f2ziFZJvSxjyt4apDXT1_-8tTsnZsOPwwEeHEniXq-4gE1NLACKaJsaYYnpc1fzLJaZnAyjcAN6SkNOp_0DWjVzgunb1vlh6lcwC27npg9rjZ64ZEGqUrvpWoIr2cKxZ6PrlR/s400/sedge+warbler.jpg) |
sedge warbler - caught and ringed |
We also caught this blackbird which was first ringed in November 2003 as a first year bird, making this chap 7 this year!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kMErIYa_gwPGSjP3Ys-1Jn9hwXKuy4NgEL98DfvtUtSKgGLZLpjAGQIJluOTybjrz48lq8g36E4B3X61LLmP9guQjzYOBL3-lYwJo3r-PbIRsGWf30b7ZFyY22j9FqYChMQfEoo_O_Pw/s400/blackbird.jpg) |
Seven year old blackbird |
Janet caught this juvenile starling, there are a lot of them about so I am surprised we didn't catch more, Janet wasn't concerned though, seemingly starlings are a pain to ring. I was disappointed, I've never ringed Starling.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJfOceM60iCY0KI31fp3KO5Ggri-BubkswGD7lmSyg8YUiBgnwrCskbCBgVQkmc7AOsc7EwlWs4Zpf8zIakbHbhasGi_wDr91k5g_IVEp1KB3RaaZtFv12u27GOKDl-E3lutkGVKmt8dc/s400/juv+starling.jpg) |
juvenile starling |
Saturday night ended at a BBQ in Stakeford, I didn't get to bed until 3.30 am, not bad going considering I had been up since 4.30.
I was in the office today when I got a call from Steve Holliday, who was sure he had a
marsh warbler singing by the path to the hides. I called in on the way home and soon heard it singing, imitating a swallow at first, from the willows behind the bund.
It only sung intermittently and flew out of cover, briefly, once, in the hour and half I was there. this is my second marsh warbler for Druridge, the first was on the 1st of June 2008, which sang for three days by the Budge Screen.
Whilst I was bored, I took these shots...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1ETK8zyKcCWFQCY3nVIYYOQTmY5wy0HxLgAPvOJiBh74cPD0WyIDswZKcSLpdRXz9IEcpjV8rEy40uuY7HBzx5R8bHOrGOs009JWzrky09tb5QLi-HcdQuHfuVUDYyW_l_IXC7qWLzNS/s400/Cercopsis+vulnerata.jpg) |
Cercopsis vulnerata a red and black type of froghopper |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9U02tRQw5Xqtmf5TKULJWQooAco7UsNg_D26K4s8qza7qUU-370sj12NYnVTbf1dzLZ2sDAuZLkAyCy1a8e3XEGWQSbakyUopR_cW9-w-2iXHynXHfXQpuFQVYAxtHzm9kpUhZHjSewv2/s400/northern+marsh+orchid.jpg) |
northern marsh orchid |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3nyfL-QcHWpQX3Xl1rrDE_5OSLKy-aKsUFaBES-q19NRa4_JCE9KmErP9PrTO0_IPJh3epEspAEWDEPHD4-oymO1Ft54n4uYQ-pRHy_stfaj6R4xjrXLGYeHuEo5_-VdWLEHzsA6fYX2/s400/spider.jpg) |
unidentified spider |
Any thoughts on this spider?
123 little tern
124 roseate tern
125 marsh warbler