The last ringing in the last day

It's 31.12.2011 so today was my last chanse for some ringing. Yesterday I went to bed at 03:30 AM and this morning I woke up at 06:00 AM. So I had less than 2 hours for some sleep. But this morning the weather was very good for the mist net-no sun and no wind ,but cold. The totals for the day are very good for my standarts-17 birds (15 new and 2 recaps).
-5- Yellowhammers
-2-Sombre tits
-1-Greenfinch
-9-Great tits

So this was the last ringing for the year and for the short time that I had I'm very happy...

I wish you all Happy New year and much more great moments with our hobby !!!

Cute mole video

This is a video made by brother while he was in the forests near Veshtica. This mole is searching for food in the leaves.

Where is the snow this winter ?

Christmas is near but here in Bulgaria we still don't have snow :( And the forecast is showing that there maybe there wont be any snow even on Christmas. I will probably be in Belogradchik for the holidays and it will make me very sad if there is no snow...But anyway I will probably have some time for my birds so I guess this is enough :)

Wonderful day !

I'm in Belogradchik again.
This morning I got up at 6:00 AM. At 6:40 I was on my ringing site. The weather was very cold and windy and I wasn't expecting big number of birds for today. Total 2 Great tits. One new and the other ringed last year. Both in very good health.

These are the main food sources for the birds in the winter here in Veshtica.
Hip bush

Burdock

My first ringed bird...

I ringed my first bird 9 years ago. I was 11 years old and I've just started learning about birds. It was the beginning of the summer and the weather was very worm. My father told me that there is a swallows nest in the barn. So we decided to see if there are little swallows in the nest. When we went there we saw 4 little yellow beaks. My father made all the ringing but I helped his as much as I could. It was very exciting day for me :) This was my first ringing...Tell about yours :)

2012 Calendar

I didn't have what to do so I made year 2012 calendar from my photos and I hope you would like it :P

My first bird video on youtube

Today I decided to make a video about some of the birds I've ringed. So I chose some of my best pictures and assembled the video. I know it's amateur but It's my first video so I hope you would like it.

Birds in Sofia

I live in Sofia more than a year and I can tell you the main bird species here.
The first bird you will see here is the Magpie. There are very large numbers of them in almost every place in the city.There are also many grey crows.

Other bird that you can see here in Sofia is the great tit. In the winter they group with other small birds to find food and often "attack" food that is left on the terraces.

One of the most interesting birds that I see here is the Green Woodpecker. But all the birds that I saw were male.

I don't count the birds that I saw in the parks in Sofia because there is different habitat and the birds there are like the birds in any small forest in Bulgaria. From what I saw here for the last year I can say that the bird variety is very poor inside the town except the park of course.

The pictures in this post are from http://en.wikipedia.org.

My burned ringing site

I am back in Belogradchik because there are elections here and I wanted to vote. Today I found some time and went to Veshtica to see my burned ringing site....I was shocked. You will see on the pictures that there is almost nothing left.

Before the fire...

After

Some food for the survivors.

Every day the same...

Every day is the same....I just don't know what to do here in Sofia. I don't even have time to go in the park and enjoy some of the birds there :( I envy the people that have time for some nature and I hope they understand what they have !!!

Disaster

Today my brother called me and told me that there was a fire in Veshtica. The land around the village is almost 100% burned but there are no casualties from the village. He and my father managed to save our bee hives. My ringing site also survived. This winter I will have to double my effords with the bird feeding but I will do what I can :) For now I don't have photos , but if I find some you will see them.

Turdus Philomelos

Unlike yesterday the weather was hot and sunny from the morning. On the first 2 checks on the nets , I ringed 2 birds. The birds were 2 beautiful and agressive Song thrushes. I also tried to catch something with my old trap , but because of the worm weather the birds are still carefull. After few hours I will go to Sofia again. So it was great weekend for me and hope you all have nice moments !

Fantastic day

I am in Belogradchik again, but this time it be for only 3 days. Of course in the first morning since I am here , I went to Veshtica and made some very nice ringing today. But why this was a fantastic day ? Because I ringed 3 birds for the first time in my life! These birds were Jay,Yellowhammer and Redstart. Maybe there are not very rare birds ,but it was very exciting experience for me. The totals for today are 10 new birds and 2 retraps:

Great tit-2(2)
Blackbird-1
Song thrush-2
Jay-1
Redstart-1
Yellowhammer-1
Blackcap-1
Greenfinch-1

I'm exhausted and the bed is waiting for me,because tomorrow I won't miss the chance for another fantastic day of ringing.

My first Jay

Song thrush

Me

Greenfinch

Redstart

Last ringing for the vacation

17.09.2011 was the last day for me in Belogradchik for this vacation.Tomorrow I have to go to Sofia because on 19.09 I will start my second year in the university. I am happy for the time I spended here but sadly It have to end. So for today 4 birds: 2 Robins and 2 Blackcaps(male and a female). I also made a table which I am planing to use as a feeder. I will have to start buying seeds and nuts for the winter. For now I am satisfied of what I've accomplished. I wish to all many happy memories with our favorite birds.

Dead Raven

Last week when I was at Sofia, my brother and my father found a dead raven.They couldnt find the reason for its death but my father is sure that the bird wasn't shot.The population of raven in Veshtica is stable for now ,but it's still a sad case.

More birdbanding in Veshtica

This morning I got up earlier and went alone to Veshtica , because my brother had to go to school. At first the weather was cold and cloudy. As you can see on the first picture the results were very good, but then the sum came out and it became nearly impossible to ring anything. Total for the day: 2-Blackbirds, 3-Great tits, 1 Blue tit, 1-Long-tailed tit, 1-Robin and 1-Blackcap. This is good catch for me and tomorrow I will give them some rest and a chance to eat some of the grape in the vineyard.

Morning catch

Long-tailed tit

Robin

Young Blackbird

Female Blackcap

Blackbirds and Tits

Today was my first ringing for more than 2 months. Yesterday I came from Sofia to Belogradchik and this morning we(me and my brother) went to my village.I used my only 2 mist nets because traps now would be useless.I plased my lager net in a new location, near my vineyard. Now there are large numbers of blackbirds and other fruiteating birds. The results were 2 blackbirds and 1 blue tit.
In the other net 3 great tits-2 new and 1 that was ringed last year in the same place.It was very hot today so I am satisfied from the results.Tomorrow I will go even earlier and I hope I would have a chance to ring so birds :)
I also saw 2 ravens but I couldnt take a picture of them...

Another snake

This is a picture of a Smooth snake.The picture was made by my brother Aleksandar in a mountain near Belogradchik.
Smooth snake is a harmless colubrid species found in northern and central Europe, but also as far east as northern Iran.Both sexes grow to an average length of about 50 cm (19.7 in).

Birds in Bulgaria website

I've recently discovered a Bulgarian website about the birds in my country. I think the site is very useful so if some of you want to take a look you can do it from here.

Lanius Collurio caught 7years after its ringing.

Today I went to Veshtica because I had to help my father gather the honey from our bee hives. Meanwhile I set up the nets and caught four birds. 1 Great tit,1 young Robin,1 female Black-Cap and Red-backed Shrike with a ring. After a reference I saw that the bird was ringed by my father on 27.06.2004 in a nest.Seven years later the bird was in perfect health.

Finally some ringing

Today I came home :) The first thing I did was to go to my village and set up the net. I ringed two Robins and one male Blackcap. I also found Red-backed Shrikes nest. So I'm happy now , I finally made some ringing :)

My new book

Yesterday I finally bought Pocked Birds of Britain and Europe. I'm very happy because It's very hard to find so useful books here in Bulgaria :)

More snakes and turtles

My brother and father went to Dunav river for fishing.They caught only one small fish and they released it. The pictures below are of water snake and a turtle.

Old picture

I found a picture of myself. It's made one year ago by my brother.

This is me preparing for ringing and fishing trip( I got only one fish that day).

Oriolus oriolus and Lanius Collurio nest

Today my brother and my father managed to rind three Golden Orioles. They also took pictures of them. I've never ringed an Golden oriole so I consider it for a big success. My brother also send me pictures of 5 little Lanius Collurio in their nest.


Golden Oriole

Golden Oriole

Lanius Collurio in their nest

Lanius Collurio in their nest

Lanius Collurio in their nest