Ringing ..... Keep Them Crossed!

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

I'm pretty sure I had my second ever " Control ", today!

 

This is when we catch a bird wearing a ring put on by someone else, five klicks or more away.

 

It was a robin and ~ I know this'll sound silly! But; I didn't recognise the bird! That's the first thing that struck me. Then, when I read his ring number, bells went off.

 

I checked the ring several times. Wrote it all down in my note book. Then tried to get over it. I couldn't though!

 

Got my Log out and searched for his number. Sure enough, I had this series recorded. The prefix letter told me it was one of my bosses rings.

 

When he comes here, see, I put his rings on the birds. His 'A' Rings are prefixed 'Y'. Mine are 'D'. So, a D rung bird is one I've trapped for myself. Y's are ones caught and ringed while he's here.

 

I had, like, " Y100234 " to " Y100257 " in my Log. That'd be a day we were working together.

 

Then, the next entry from this series is something like " Y100423 " onwards. And this robin had a number in between '257 and '423.

 

I've mailed him, to ask. But, it seems pretty straight forward: This is a bird He's caught, probably a couple of counties away, in between visits to here.

 

Now, the birds moved east across the country and I've caught it! (Subject to official confirmation, of course. But, I'm pretty sure. Let's keep them crossed .....)

 

[stealthy1 3,964]

How old was it when you caught it first time?

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Do pay attention at the back!

 

This is exactly what I'm saying. I Didn't catch it a first time. I caught five tits today. They were all wearing my rings (Or rings it's fair to assume I'd put on them, rather). These we call " Re Traps ".

 

Frankly? That's two a penny stuff. We learn from it that the said birds are still alive. Still in the area. And we take their weight, to gauge how they're managing. In the breeding season, we can also tell if a hen is brooding eggs.

 

This bird though appears to have made quite a movement, east. I'll know for sure when my boss gets back to me.

 

Of course, having had at least one 'Control' before now? What I'm gagging for is to come up with a bird wearing a Russian ring. Or have one of my own birds caught in Russia!

 

Well, I mean, bloody UK would do! Even Dublin or Ulster would be a rush! Just any bird ringed by someone I've never met. Or, one of mine Controlled by them.

 

One of my bosses little egrets (rung at the nest, as chicks) recently turned up in f**king Iceland, or somewhere like that! How cool is that ....? Yes; I know. It's f**king freezing!

[stealthy1 3,964]

What kind of tits?

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Great's and one Blue. I'd have liked a Coal or two in the mix, frankly. I like them.

 

Little blue tit bit like a f**ker, by the way! I was having a job prising the little sod off my finger!

 

I've told my boss not to take any more shit from me, by the way. Next time he's up here, he's to bloody well Make Me get birds out of the mist net. I'm bloody determined to learn that skill. I want my own net endorsement for next year.

 

The past couple of months have seen more tumble weed than birds around here. Now, they're coming back though. And I'm sick and tired of seeing them swarm past the gated gap in my back hedge! Had a net there? I'd be ringing dozens a day!

 

Turned my life around, see? Was sitting here, pissing it up from early to the early hours. Then sleeping till mid afternoon. Waking up so groggy I was useless.

 

Now? I'm in that pit right after the stroke of midnight and up, with the alarm, at 08:00. Getting more done in a day than I was in a week. Feeling energised and sharp. Bloody gagging for projects to crack on with.

 

Point is; I can now concentrate. I don't have the bloody shakes in my hands. And I'll look on extricating a bird from a net as it should be; A problem of basic observation and logic. I can do that

[stealthy1 3,964]

The mist net is the way forward Just seeing a few Blues and Greats in my garden, think they may be migrants, because they seem to have appeared all at once, along with Fieldfares.

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Oh, god; Fieldfares!

 

Now, your tits, see, are just what fascinates me about all this. I once figured I had my great tits weighed off. I'd have swore there were five to seven visiting me each day.

 

Boss turned up. Put up a mist net. We took seventeen! Little sods were coming in shifts!

 

Now, as said, mine have been away. Now they're back. Wonder about yours?

 

Siskins are another one due back any time now. I'll have bugger all chance at them, without a mist net.

[stealthy1 3,964]

The tits seem to come at the same time roughly each day, dont know why, but not visiting all day, not seen any Greats or Blues in mixed parties either? Longtails are flocking up well in 7 to 15 in a party, Coals and Willows are only visiting odd times, not every day, and seem very thin on the ground, dont know why? We normally have shed loads of Coals.