Sunday 31 May 2020

Camera Trap Update

Since lockdown was relaxed slightly I have managed to work with my camera trap some more. I have now managed to read four colour-rings. The camera has been moved to the feeding zone and as a result the camera is amongst the hordes now. Reading the rings from the photographs has been difficult, but I am slowly getting the camera closer to their legs. So far I have had birds from the Channel Islands, The Netherlands and Wales. CK from The Netherlands was at Shawell last September as a juvenile.

The camera resolution does not compete with a good DSLR, so as you zoom in the detail becomes pixilated. The bright sunshine has also caused problems with shadows etc, but I'm up and running so that's good.

I now need to take care of the battery situation as they are only lasting four days with the amount of action. A solar charger should be available for the camera in July.

Can you spot two Yellow-legged Gulls?

A Fox tried his luck, but the gulls escaped his jaws.


F:581 ringed on Flat Holm Island, Wales











Sunday 17 May 2020

Its Been a While!

Well I haven't had much to say for a while, but I'm still here. A week and a half into lockdown and I managed to sprain my ankle, which left me immobile for nearly three weeks. However, I am now walking about in a fashion, as it's not right yet. Nevertheless I have managed to record 70 species around my garden or within a short distance on foot from home. I was quite surprised at how many common warbler species can be found on the outskirts of Earl Shilton. I have found over 20 Whitethroat territories, seven Lesser Whitethroat, many Blackcaps and also Reed and Sedge Warblers. Willow warblers are in short supply though - just one pair found.

Today I collected the memory card from my trail camera. I left it at the farm on March 21st, so it was going to be interesting to see how long the batteries had lasted. Checking the card I could see the battery failed on April 16th, which means it lasted 26 days on a cheap set of AA batteries and the camera took over 46,000 photos. Most of the photos were of corvids, but it did capture some gulls. Nearly all the gulls are young Herring Gulls, but it was interesting to see that sightings tapered off in early April. However, today at least 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were there and that gives me more hope of recording colour-rings. I also moved the camera today, so fingers crossed.