Tuesday, 19 November 2019

First winter visitors

Today the Group were lucky to find a day of weather ideal for mist netting. Little wind, dry and cloudy. It resulted in 64 birds being caught and processed of 15 species. Over wintering Chiffchaffs as well as two Redwings being the Group's first winter visitors, apart from the Chiffchaffs. A female Sparrowhawk was caught no doubt in the area looking for a meal with the high number of passerines. Two Cetti's Warblers were also caught hoping a mild winter will help to increase the survival rate of breeding next year.

Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Late autumn catch

Yesterday with a fine break in the wet and windy weather of late allowed the Group to carry out a late autumn catch. A high number of members attended no doubt to to enjoy the dryer conditions. They were not disappointed, with a haul of 64 birds of 16 species. Of those, a fine male Firecrest was caught and ringed, one of several apparently seen in the area. A Treecreeper was caught, which is always a treat and a Grey Wagtail being the first bird of the morning. A female Mallard near the ringing base was enticed to some grain and fell in the hands of the team. Nineteen Long-tailed Tits were caught as well as seven Goldcrests and three Chiffchaffs.

Male Firecrest 

Treecreeper

Long-tailed Tit

Photographs Felix Littlechild