Martin's Birding Blog: November, a good month for ringing!

4th November, an other early start, but eager for another session of ringing at Simar. First catch included two Reed Buntings together with the usual Chiffchaffs and Robins, plus a Stonechat . Later I found a Moustached warbler in the net, a bird I was happy to add to the species I've ringed. Another Reed bunting too, this was going great! My first Wryneck, and a late Willow warbler made it 3 new species for the day! Ended off with yet another Moustached Warbler and a Song thrush. A total of 73 birds ringed for the day.
After ringing we went for a seawatch which had it not been for a last minute find of a Short-eared owl would have been futile!
Chiffchaffs dominated on the 9th November, at Simar once again with 48 ringed in all. Two White Wagtails and two Reed buntings which I got to ring one of each was definitely the more exciting species. Even more when I had never seen a White wagtail in the hand.
A day of impatient waiting for the next session on 11th November, one to highlighted by yet another species I had never ringed...Firecrest...3 of them! Only my second Grey wagtail and a Reed bunting made the morning even the more worthwhile. The Moustached Warbler ringed on the 4th November was retrapped. This was probably a record year for Moustached warlers at Simar, to date 6 have been ringed in total. 41 Chiffchaffs, 8 Robin, 3 Blackcap and a Sardinian warbler complete the picture for the day.
Not long to wait for the next session...the next day 12th November at Ghadira. Record of Dunnocks with a total of 37 of which I was extremely happy to ring 18, being a species not frequenting often on the list of Simar. The rest was mainly Chiffchaffs, a few Robins and a Stonechat.
15th November, an evening session this time at Simar, coming cycling full speed from university. Not that it wasn't worthed! Got to ring a nice 1st year male Blackbird and a Song thrush in the first 10 minutes. Retraps of a Robin ringed last year and a Chiffchaff ringed last year February gears you on to continue ringing seeing the point of it all!
Yesterday 18th November at Simar was rather quiet, probably too much wind. 8 Chiffchaffs, 3 Robins, a Dunnock, a Blackcap and a Spanish Sparrow was all. A large flock of around 80 Mediterranean gulls ans few Black-headed gulls flying over the reserve being blown in by the wind are worth mentioning.
In the evening went to the Airport in hope of seeing Lapwings and Golden plovers, but got something better! Just before leaving spotted a raptor shortly soaring in the distance before it took a glide in the opposite direction from us. Called some birders in Buskett, who got better views and confirmed it as a Red kite! A rare bird of prey on our shores, and my first. Unfortunately it was seen to be shot at and although it escaped that encounter with little police presence in the countryside it is unlikely it would survive very long.
Today, 19th Nov, at Ghadira over 70 birds were ringed, with a good variety too, 2 Wrynecks, a White Wagtail, 2 Reed buntings apart from Robins, Chiffchaffs, Dunnocks and Blackcaps. A fellow trainee did most of the ringing while I got to ring my first Water Rail, which was great!