Small and sharp

I spent all day ringing at Castor Hanglands near Peterborough. We caught some nice birds - Marsh Tit, Treecreeper, a lot of retrap Long-tailed Tits (some a couple of years old), and this Sparrowhawk.

Before ringing a Sparrowhawk, you need to know for sure whether it's male or female. Males are much smaller and take a smaller ring than females. So you measure the wing and its leg...

This is a male. Mind those talons!

The feet are ready to grab you at all times...

The pointy end! Don't worry about the hooked beak, worry about these

Happy ringer (see how small the bird is)

The fog never really lifted all day...

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D

Captured!

I had my first attempt at ringing in my new garden today. It started well, with three birds in the net within 15 minutes, but that was the lot and I caught nothing else before finally giving up around lunchtime.

Great Tit: quizzical

Coal Tit: innocent

Blue Tit: "Grrrrr"

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

The leaves of Beeston

and, er, a flag

photos taken with iPhone and Hipstamatic app

Leaves at The Lodge

photos taken with iPhone and Hipstamatic app