MisterT
Always Birding
2022 was another productive year for our House Sparrows here at Askernish. A total of 306 new birds were colour ringed throughout the year of which 252 were juveniles, and 54 adults, 8 of which were ringed later in the year having completely moulted into adult plumage but were most likely to have been first-year birds.
A total of 4,850 observations were made throughout the year and at year’s end, our core population numbered 56 birds.
The year started badly with several of our birds suffering from what looked like Bird Pox with discharge round the eyes and bill, and some with lesions on head and body. This was more than enough for us to stop feeding and trapping. Although several were found dead both here and elsewhere around the islands and another noted as suffering in July after a long respite, the vast majority seemed to be unaffected, and the outbreak was not as severe as in previous years.
The first fledged juvenile was noted on 3rd May, the earliest ever by 3 days, and the first to be ringed was on the 7th. In August, a total of 131 individuals were recorded, the highest ever in one month.
As usual, there were those “disappearing” birds which always seem to arrive in poor weather. This year there were 5, one of which (L71), had been ringed in July 2016, seen in the August, but not since then. Just where had it been this past 6 years!!
Reports of birds elsewhere were from Barra, Vatersay, Benbecula, North and South Uist.
On South Uist, 5 birds were seen at Bornish (north – 5km), 1 at Frobost (north – 2 km), 3 at Lochboisdale (south – 7km), and 1 at South Glendale (south – 11km). New for this year were sightings from Garraheillie (south - 2km) where 11 birds were seen including one (Z52) which was seen on Barra a few days later. It was also noted that 2 birds later returned to Askernish suggesting that there may be regular interchange between the 2 sites.
On Benbecula, E01 was seen in a garden at Creagorry (north – 25km) in May and again 1km away in a different garden in October. The only record on North Uist was E93, seen at Carinish (north 36km) in December.
Movements of birds from Askernish to Barra and vice versa were again noted this year. 2 birds originally ringed at Brevig (south – 25km) in 2021 were trapped here in Askernish, 1 in January, the other in February, while 3 individuals ringed here were seen in Brevig, all in the autumn, one of which (Z52) was seen en route at Garraheillie, South Uist.
And finally, P58, ringed in August 2018 was seen in Vatersay township (south – 31km) in January and again in March. This may just be the elusive bird seen in previous years when the ring number could not be read.
Many thanks once again to Bill Neill for his many, many sightings!
Movements of Sparrows within the Uists and to Vatersay & Barra
A total of 4,850 observations were made throughout the year and at year’s end, our core population numbered 56 birds.
The year started badly with several of our birds suffering from what looked like Bird Pox with discharge round the eyes and bill, and some with lesions on head and body. This was more than enough for us to stop feeding and trapping. Although several were found dead both here and elsewhere around the islands and another noted as suffering in July after a long respite, the vast majority seemed to be unaffected, and the outbreak was not as severe as in previous years.
The first fledged juvenile was noted on 3rd May, the earliest ever by 3 days, and the first to be ringed was on the 7th. In August, a total of 131 individuals were recorded, the highest ever in one month.
As usual, there were those “disappearing” birds which always seem to arrive in poor weather. This year there were 5, one of which (L71), had been ringed in July 2016, seen in the August, but not since then. Just where had it been this past 6 years!!
Reports of birds elsewhere were from Barra, Vatersay, Benbecula, North and South Uist.
On South Uist, 5 birds were seen at Bornish (north – 5km), 1 at Frobost (north – 2 km), 3 at Lochboisdale (south – 7km), and 1 at South Glendale (south – 11km). New for this year were sightings from Garraheillie (south - 2km) where 11 birds were seen including one (Z52) which was seen on Barra a few days later. It was also noted that 2 birds later returned to Askernish suggesting that there may be regular interchange between the 2 sites.
On Benbecula, E01 was seen in a garden at Creagorry (north – 25km) in May and again 1km away in a different garden in October. The only record on North Uist was E93, seen at Carinish (north 36km) in December.
Movements of birds from Askernish to Barra and vice versa were again noted this year. 2 birds originally ringed at Brevig (south – 25km) in 2021 were trapped here in Askernish, 1 in January, the other in February, while 3 individuals ringed here were seen in Brevig, all in the autumn, one of which (Z52) was seen en route at Garraheillie, South Uist.
And finally, P58, ringed in August 2018 was seen in Vatersay township (south – 31km) in January and again in March. This may just be the elusive bird seen in previous years when the ring number could not be read.
Many thanks once again to Bill Neill for his many, many sightings!
Movements of Sparrows within the Uists and to Vatersay & Barra