Friday, April 29, 2022

Spring ringing 23-24.04.2022

 In the last few years, I'm trying to limit my spring ringing attempts since spring migration at my usual site is very scarce.

This year, during our Easter holidays we had a very visible wave of flycatchers and I couldn't resist putting up the nest and trying to ring some of them. The highlights for sure are the two Collared and one Pied flycatchers, which are my first ringed birds from those species. Nice addition was my third Barred warbler.


Total: 19

Collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) - 2

Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) - 1

Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus major) - 1

Whitetroat (Sylvia communis) - 5

Blackcap(Sylvia atricapilla) - 2

Great tit (Parus major) -  2

Barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria) - 1

Blackbird (Turdus merula) - 3

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - 1

Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) - 1


Barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria)

Barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria)

Collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

Collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

(Dendrocopus major)

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Whitetroat (Sylvia communis)

Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

(Ficedula hypoleuca)


Sunday, April 10, 2022

First nest of the season

 The weather here in Bulgaria has improved in the first days of April and the breeding season began with full speed. 

While some of our migrating birds are just arriving, others have already started incubating.


I usually try to monitor and ring nests near my hometown, but yesterday I couldn't resist looking for some nests in one of the parks here in Sofia. 

During my one-hour walk, I've found five active nests (3 Turdus merula and 2 Turdus philomelos). Most of them are very high in the trees since the park lacks any low-growing bushes.


Hopefully next week I'll be able to spend much more time searching and recording nests, but in general, I just hope for a successful season and many fledged young birds.


Turdus philomelos nest

Female Turdus merula