Older Younger

So, with the kinder wind values this morning compared to yesterday morning, it was off ringing to have another go for Cuckoo....

I didnt get Cuckoo...but two Blackcaps turned up....

First, this one has a complete black cap as it is male.  This, along with a broader, more rounded tail feather, points toward it being an adult bird.

Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla

This second bird though has still retained some of the red-brown feathering in its cap.  (All Blackcaps start life with a red-brown cap and the males quickly replace most of these feathers with black ones before leaving for distant lands).  It also had a more pointed tail feather meaning it was born last year, making it an immature bird.

Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla

Heres a bird, Jay, that can bring tears to a grown mans eye....and in the past that has certainly happened to me!  The power in that bill is quite immense and once it has grabbed a hold of a little bit of skin it wont let go easily.  Struggle away and it simply applies more and more pressure.  Im always wary when I have to get these birds out of the net and I am ringing alone....today I had to perform the task twice as two different birds appeared...probably a pair.

I do have to add that I love seeing these birds at any time and think they are rather a splendid site to see...almost an exotic looking species.

Jay, Garralus glandarius