Dendrocopus major

This morning's ringing session in Sheffield lasted just 2 and a half hours, before the wind got up and put a stop to the fun! Luckily, in that time we managed to ring approximately a dozen birds, including a new species for me, Dendrocopus major, or Great-spotted Woodpecker.The bird, a male, was a retrap, most likely one of the three that were rung here earlier in the year by other members of the Sorby Breck Ringing Group. 

Great-spotted Woodpecker

I think this must be one of the best birds I've rung so far. Not only did it look great, but it also had a great feel to it, with the stiff tail feathers, a powerful beak, which it used to peck me, and amazingly strong claws. A real honour! Other birds that I was lucky enough to handle today were: Nuthatch (1 retrap), Chaffinch (1 retrap), Great Tit (1 retrap) and Goldfinch (1 new bird).

Also seen today were: 2 Whitethroats which were singing in the trees and bushes (1 of which we caught and ringed), a Mistle Thrush, a Swift overhead and 4 Swallows. A check of the nestboxes on site also revealed Blue and Great Tits on eggs and one nest of day old sparrow chicks, most likely Tree Sparrows.