7th June 2010 - Chesworth and Owls

A decent selection of species this morning at Chesworth Farm with new birds including a Jay, another new Reed Warbler (nine birds now caught here), two juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker (below) and a good haul of 15 Greenfinch. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen, but away from the nets.
I was joined at 10am by Barrie and Anne Watson and Eddie to check the Barn Owl box here. On inspection, the box contained five well grown chicks (below) and all were of a ringable size although varying dramatically. The most amazing thing though was what else was in the box.
Apart from the knock over smell of ammonia and pellets galore there were two freshly killed mammals (which I think I had seen the male bring back to the nestbox only moments earlier) being a Common Shrew and a Field Vole (below).
We then went to a couple of other boxes near my Warnham garden finding a pair at one with four eggs, being brooded by the adult female that was caught here last year, while the other nest contained a day old chick and three eggs and a capture of the adult male (below with Barrie).
Birds ringed: (retraps in brackets)
Robin - 4
Goldfinch - 4 (1)
Blue Tit - 16 (2)
Blackcap - 2 (3)
Reed Warbler - 1 (3)
Whitethroat - 1
Great Tit - 1 (1)
Song Thrush - 1
Jay - 1
Reed Bunting - (1)
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 2 (1)
House Sparrow - 4 (3)
Greenfinch - 15 (2)
Blackbird - (2)
Wren - (1)
Barn Owl - 1 + 5 nestlings (1)