SMLBirder
@smlbirder.bsky.social
BTO A permit holder, Devon Birds and Portland Bird Observatory member. Now retired and having a good time. Dedicated to conservation at South Milton Ley Nature Reserve. Visit my blog at: https://earlywormringing.wordpress.com
A cool, grey and dreary day yesterday with the nets full of leaves! Still caught 56 birds, dominated by Chiffs and Crests and the 1st Redwing of the autumn. Some very fat Chiffchaffs heading south - up to 9.5g. I had to check the calibration on my scales! #birdringing #ukbirding
October 16, 2025 at 8:31 AM
A cool, grey and dreary day yesterday with the nets full of leaves! Still caught 56 birds, dominated by Chiffs and Crests and the 1st Redwing of the autumn. Some very fat Chiffchaffs heading south - up to 9.5g. I had to check the calibration on my scales! #birdringing #ukbirding
Yesterday. Steady passage of migrants. 90 birds, 13 species. Quite enough for a lone ringer! 4 Blackcap, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 27 Chiffchaff, 4 Firecrest, 16 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 22 Meadow Pipit, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Wren. #birdringing #ukbirding
October 1, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Yesterday. Steady passage of migrants. 90 birds, 13 species. Quite enough for a lone ringer! 4 Blackcap, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 27 Chiffchaff, 4 Firecrest, 16 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 22 Meadow Pipit, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Wren. #birdringing #ukbirding
South Milton Ley Nature Reserve, Devon, our first ever Firecrest control: Ringed here on the 28-Sep-2024, and controlled almost a year later on 24-Sep-2025 at Coppet Hill, Dorset, UK. 361 days since ringed, 92km movement. #birdringing #ukbirding
September 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
South Milton Ley Nature Reserve, Devon, our first ever Firecrest control: Ringed here on the 28-Sep-2024, and controlled almost a year later on 24-Sep-2025 at Coppet Hill, Dorset, UK. 361 days since ringed, 92km movement. #birdringing #ukbirding
Tuesday 23rd. A beautiful autumnal day at SML with a steady trickle of migrants. 56 ringed, dominated by Chiffchaffs and Meadow Pipits with a supporting cast of Blackcaps, a late Reed Warbler and the first Goldcrest and Firecrest of the autumn. #birdringing #ukbirding
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Tuesday 23rd. A beautiful autumnal day at SML with a steady trickle of migrants. 56 ringed, dominated by Chiffchaffs and Meadow Pipits with a supporting cast of Blackcaps, a late Reed Warbler and the first Goldcrest and Firecrest of the autumn. #birdringing #ukbirding
Yesterday was the first ringing opportunity for two weeks. Some hirundine and pipit passage overhead but only 12 migrants caught out of 35 birds. The remainder were resident species and re-traps. A close-up of a meadow pipit hind claw is attached for those interested! #birdringing #ukbirding
September 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Yesterday was the first ringing opportunity for two weeks. Some hirundine and pipit passage overhead but only 12 migrants caught out of 35 birds. The remainder were resident species and re-traps. A close-up of a meadow pipit hind claw is attached for those interested! #birdringing #ukbirding
Friday 5th Sept. A welcome break in the weather saw 45 birds processed, half being passage warblers. No visible passage of pipits or hirundines. The other half were mostly local Tits and Robins. Bonus: another new fungus for the reserve list Candolleomyces candolleanus. #birdringing #ukbirding
September 6, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Friday 5th Sept. A welcome break in the weather saw 45 birds processed, half being passage warblers. No visible passage of pipits or hirundines. The other half were mostly local Tits and Robins. Bonus: another new fungus for the reserve list Candolleomyces candolleanus. #birdringing #ukbirding
The warblers breeding within SML seem to have had their most successful season for years, with only brief periods of wet weather to interrupt the food supply, so it was a surprise to catch a Chiffchaff with a fault across the end of its tail. Who knows where it hatched! #birdringing #ukbirding
August 14, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The warblers breeding within SML seem to have had their most successful season for years, with only brief periods of wet weather to interrupt the food supply, so it was a surprise to catch a Chiffchaff with a fault across the end of its tail. Who knows where it hatched! #birdringing #ukbirding
This female Kingfisher was the star bird yesterday, on what was the quietest day of the autumn so far. Just 43 birds processed. A bit of a slog in the sultry heat! #birdringing #ukbirding
August 14, 2025 at 8:52 AM
This female Kingfisher was the star bird yesterday, on what was the quietest day of the autumn so far. Just 43 birds processed. A bit of a slog in the sultry heat! #birdringing #ukbirding
Another 71 birds were processed yesterday, including this male Cirl Bunting. The incessant high-pitched, squealing calls of juvenile Water Rails has formed the background sound to all my recent visits to South Milton Ley. #birdringing #ukbirding
August 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Another 71 birds were processed yesterday, including this male Cirl Bunting. The incessant high-pitched, squealing calls of juvenile Water Rails has formed the background sound to all my recent visits to South Milton Ley. #birdringing #ukbirding
The moth boys were busy again at SML on July 25th, adding another 10 species to the list. Best of the bunch – Webb’s Wainscott, a notable B species, which is spreading along the coasts of southern England. It favours fens, marshes, and brackish ditches so not unexpected at SML. #ukmoths #DevonMoths
August 1, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The moth boys were busy again at SML on July 25th, adding another 10 species to the list. Best of the bunch – Webb’s Wainscott, a notable B species, which is spreading along the coasts of southern England. It favours fens, marshes, and brackish ditches so not unexpected at SML. #ukmoths #DevonMoths
Birds had deserted the reedbed at SML prior to yesterday’s heavy showers. Nothing caught there all day. The perimeter compensated, yielding 79 birds of 12 species, including 34 Chiffchaffs, 27 Willow Warblers and the first Garden Warbler of the autumn. #birdringing #ukbirding
August 1, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Birds had deserted the reedbed at SML prior to yesterday’s heavy showers. Nothing caught there all day. The perimeter compensated, yielding 79 birds of 12 species, including 34 Chiffchaffs, 27 Willow Warblers and the first Garden Warbler of the autumn. #birdringing #ukbirding
I learnt something this week. I ringed a Great Tit with flaking scales on its tarsii. Initially I feared disease. I hadn’t realised that the "podotheca", the scaly skin covering birds’ feet and legs, has a periodic shedding and replacement process. Not a lot about it in the literature. #birdringing
July 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
I learnt something this week. I ringed a Great Tit with flaking scales on its tarsii. Initially I feared disease. I hadn’t realised that the "podotheca", the scaly skin covering birds’ feet and legs, has a periodic shedding and replacement process. Not a lot about it in the literature. #birdringing
After 16 months disruption and 4 months late, SW Water have completed their works at South Milton STW. Multiple trees and 20m of bramble and scrub were destroyed in the process but fencing and damaged ground has been reinstated. It was great to finally get the net ride back. #birdringing #ukbirding
July 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
After 16 months disruption and 4 months late, SW Water have completed their works at South Milton STW. Multiple trees and 20m of bramble and scrub were destroyed in the process but fencing and damaged ground has been reinstated. It was great to finally get the net ride back. #birdringing #ukbirding
Busiest day's ringing this year! I closed the most distant net to catch up with the processing. 94 birds trapped: 1 Blackbird, 5 Blackcap, 6 Blue Tit, 46 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 9 Reed Warbler, 3 Robin, 3 Sedge Warbler, 8 Willow Warbler and 8 Wren. #birdringing #ukbirding
July 25, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Busiest day's ringing this year! I closed the most distant net to catch up with the processing. 94 birds trapped: 1 Blackbird, 5 Blackcap, 6 Blue Tit, 46 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit, 9 Reed Warbler, 3 Robin, 3 Sedge Warbler, 8 Willow Warbler and 8 Wren. #birdringing #ukbirding
A scorching day yesterday. 49 birds trapped including 43 juveniles. Further evidence of a good breeding season. 27 warblers were caught and strangely, a party of 8 Chaffinches together in one of the reedbed nets. Finally, a pic of a Dark Bush Cricket on the ringing table. #birdringing #ukbirding
July 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A scorching day yesterday. 49 birds trapped including 43 juveniles. Further evidence of a good breeding season. 27 warblers were caught and strangely, a party of 8 Chaffinches together in one of the reedbed nets. Finally, a pic of a Dark Bush Cricket on the ringing table. #birdringing #ukbirding
The ringing was a dull as the weather today with just 22 birds caught in 90m of nets over a six-hour session. The tedium of trying to monitor the breeding populations at SML was lifted briefly by this fine male Cirl Bunting. #birdringing #ukbirding
May 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The ringing was a dull as the weather today with just 22 birds caught in 90m of nets over a six-hour session. The tedium of trying to monitor the breeding populations at SML was lifted briefly by this fine male Cirl Bunting. #birdringing #ukbirding
I've just received details of a Chiffchaff, ringed at South Milton Ley in February 2023 and re-trapped at Paper Court Marsh, Surrey on 25 May this year. Out of all the controls of SML wintering Chiffs this is the first record of a bird, which looks to be a UK breeder. #birdringing #ukbirding
May 29, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I've just received details of a Chiffchaff, ringed at South Milton Ley in February 2023 and re-trapped at Paper Court Marsh, Surrey on 25 May this year. Out of all the controls of SML wintering Chiffs this is the first record of a bird, which looks to be a UK breeder. #birdringing #ukbirding
Too windy for nets today, so I decided to replace the rotten bridge to Marsh Ride, unsafe since last October. 3 hours of effort with Nick Townsend, from Devon Birds and we are rather pleased with the result! A quick coat of non-toxic wood preservative will finish the job. #birdringing #ukbirding
April 2, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Too windy for nets today, so I decided to replace the rotten bridge to Marsh Ride, unsafe since last October. 3 hours of effort with Nick Townsend, from Devon Birds and we are rather pleased with the result! A quick coat of non-toxic wood preservative will finish the job. #birdringing #ukbirding
With the first, returning, summer Chiffchaff of the year yesterday, it is time to knock their winter survey on the head. 158 individuals were trapped and capture/recapture models suggest that the population visiting the sewage works was 284 birds +/- 80. #birdringing #ukbirding
March 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
With the first, returning, summer Chiffchaff of the year yesterday, it is time to knock their winter survey on the head. 158 individuals were trapped and capture/recapture models suggest that the population visiting the sewage works was 284 birds +/- 80. #birdringing #ukbirding
In amongst the 50+ Chiffchaffs still wintering around the sewage works and despite a less-than-optimal net ride, I trapped one with a pollen horn. This must be a returning bird which had wintered around the Mediterranean. The earliest migrant Chiff I have ever trapped at SML. #birdringing #ukbirding
March 2, 2025 at 11:29 AM
In amongst the 50+ Chiffchaffs still wintering around the sewage works and despite a less-than-optimal net ride, I trapped one with a pollen horn. This must be a returning bird which had wintered around the Mediterranean. The earliest migrant Chiff I have ever trapped at SML. #birdringing #ukbirding
Damage to my most productive winter net ride during Southwest Water’s improvements at the sewage works continues unabated! With 75% of the trees and shrubs now removed and the works overrunning by 3 months, a JCB has now ripped up the ground underfoot! Before and after photos. #birdringing
March 2, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Damage to my most productive winter net ride during Southwest Water’s improvements at the sewage works continues unabated! With 75% of the trees and shrubs now removed and the works overrunning by 3 months, a JCB has now ripped up the ground underfoot! Before and after photos. #birdringing
Rain, gales and disturbance by engineering works meant just 7 birds were trapped at SML in January – the lowest number for years. Things picked up yesterday with 41 birds caught, including 29 Chiffchaffs and 3 Firecrests. This winter’s Chiffchaff total is now up to 144 birds. #birdringing #ukbirding
February 12, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Rain, gales and disturbance by engineering works meant just 7 birds were trapped at SML in January – the lowest number for years. Things picked up yesterday with 41 birds caught, including 29 Chiffchaffs and 3 Firecrests. This winter’s Chiffchaff total is now up to 144 birds. #birdringing #ukbirding
The ever-industrious Geoff Foale sent me a list of new insect species he recorded at SML during 2024. This prompted me to check the iRecord and NBN websites. It’s a good job I did, as I found an additional 30 species recorded by visitors. The arthropod total now stands at an impressive 1114 species!
January 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The ever-industrious Geoff Foale sent me a list of new insect species he recorded at SML during 2024. This prompted me to check the iRecord and NBN websites. It’s a good job I did, as I found an additional 30 species recorded by visitors. The arthropod total now stands at an impressive 1114 species!
One of yesterday’s Chiffchaffs, a first year bird, had an obvious fault bar across its tail. Hunger related stress when new feathers are growing can cause fault bars. The fact that all tail feathers were growing at the same time confirms the age as first year. #birdringing
#ukbirds
#ukbirds
December 28, 2024 at 12:13 PM
One of yesterday’s Chiffchaffs, a first year bird, had an obvious fault bar across its tail. Hunger related stress when new feathers are growing can cause fault bars. The fact that all tail feathers were growing at the same time confirms the age as first year. #birdringing
#ukbirds
#ukbirds
Friday 27th December 2024 – even more Chiffs!
Although the cold grey weather was not conducive to clouds of midges, a 4-hour session beside the sewage works still produced 68 birds, including 47 Chiffchaffs and another Siberian Chiff. This winter’s Chiffchaff total is already up to 119 individuals!
Although the cold grey weather was not conducive to clouds of midges, a 4-hour session beside the sewage works still produced 68 birds, including 47 Chiffchaffs and another Siberian Chiff. This winter’s Chiffchaff total is already up to 119 individuals!
December 28, 2024 at 11:58 AM
Friday 27th December 2024 – even more Chiffs!
Although the cold grey weather was not conducive to clouds of midges, a 4-hour session beside the sewage works still produced 68 birds, including 47 Chiffchaffs and another Siberian Chiff. This winter’s Chiffchaff total is already up to 119 individuals!
Although the cold grey weather was not conducive to clouds of midges, a 4-hour session beside the sewage works still produced 68 birds, including 47 Chiffchaffs and another Siberian Chiff. This winter’s Chiffchaff total is already up to 119 individuals!