Red-backed Shrike
Stunning tertials and body vermiculations of this juvenile Red-backed Shrike
Freshly moulted adult Willow Warbler
Today Craig and Heather stayed at the house to complete lots of jobs that needed to be done around the house whilst I was in charge of our team of 5 at Banvallen.
It was a really nice morning with clear skies and no wind, so I was excited about the prospects of busy net rounds. Strangely, the weather got worse as the morning went along and this is when the ringing really kicked off with a total of 65 new birds and 12 recaptures.
The highlight of the day was the above, stunning juvenile Red-backed Shrike which is a bird I have always wanted to see in the hand. Such stunning birds and I hadn't realised how lovely their mantle and tertials are with wonderful vermiculations. Shirkes have quite a reputation for being feisty birds to handle and photos usually include a ringer's hand with a few 'puncture wounds'. This bird was no exception, but when you've ringed Razorbill, there aren't many birds that impress you in terms of pain...
Totals for the day were: (recaps in brackets)
Red-backed Shrike - 1
Willow Warbler - 29 (3)
Reed Warbler - 7
Sedge Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 3 (2)
Garden Warbler - 5 (1)
Pied Flycatcher - 3
Spotted Flycatcher - 1
Robin - 5
Great Tit - 2 (4)
Blue Tit - 3
Chaffinch - 2
Song Thrush -1
Blackbird - 2
Thrush Nightingale - (1)
Nuthatch - (1)
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