Tzor'a update

Last week Hans Jurgen Eilts from Germany joined me to ring in Tzor'a Valley. Together we ringed about 300 birds. Late autumn migrants and first winter visitors were picking up: We ringed the first Robin, European Stonechat, Moustached Warbler and Chaffinch; Chiffchaffs and Bluethroats were also very common. The most interesting birds this week were the third River Warbler of this season - until this year I never had this species in autumn; the first Common Rosefinch this autumn and the second Wren ever ringed at Tzor'a, the previous one was ringed in February 2005.

River Warbler

Wren

Thanks to Hans for this nice week.

Tzor'a Ringing - September summary

Sorry for the delayed summary, lately I have been very busy.

So, September is the first month when we really feel the autumn. During 10 ringing sessions I caught 1038 birds of 50 species. Largest numbers were swallows with 415 individuals and Reed Warbler with 104 individuals.

On September 25^th I ringed the first Golden Oriole for Tzor'a Ringing Station and on 28^th the first ringed Eurasian Cuckoo. Other species worth noting were Water Rail (1), Corncrake (1), Zitting Cisticola (10), River Warbler (1) - only second for Tzor'a, Marsh Warbler (7) and Cretzschmar's Bunting (11).

I was ringing several times in a Paprika field, near my regular spot. This site was very productive with many Savi's Warbler, shrikes - including a nice wave of about 15 Lesser Grey Shrikes early in the month, also very nice flocks of Ortolan and Cretzschmar's Bunting. Late in the month the Alfalfa field became very productive with a few Lesser Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons and the regular huge flocks of Yellow Wagtails.

Eurasian Cuckoo

Zitting Cisticola

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Corncrake

House Martin