Wednesday 20 March 2019

No migrants today

Our mist netting session today did not result in any expected migrants, although two Cetti's Warblers were retrapped, one a female. So will they breed this year on the Wetlands? The weather conditions today were ideal, cloud, dry and little wind. Forty birds were caught of 14 species as follows: Wren 4; Greenfinch 2; Goldfinch 8; Robin 6; Song Thrush 1; Bullfinch 2; Long-tailed Tit (1); Reed Bunting 3; Blackbird 1; Chaffinch 6; Cetti's Warbler 2; Great Tit 1; Dunnock 1; Blue Tit 2. Finches at garden bird tables appear to have increased in recent days similar to what was experienced today.

Tuesday 12 March 2019

Busy morning

Friday 9th March turned out to be busy with a public session as well as the Countryside Team's Outdoor Group of 34 members joining us. With a small team we organised ourselves into two groups one operating in the Discovery Hut to demonstrate ringing and the large group in the Reed Base. Fortunately only 29 birds were caught so the morning was not to hectic enabling a smooth activity of sharing the birds between the groups. The Kingfisher was as usual the star draw to all as expected. Richard Austin the well known photographer was on hand most of the morning and took many photographs of the birds caught. So probably some photographs may appear in future editions of the Western Morning News. No specific highlights, apart from the Kingfisher and our first spring catch of a Chiffchaff.