Went out this morning in the company of a potential trainee, Liz, a veteran of the Italian, Maltese & other campaigns. It was the usual set-up for this time of year, a 60' at net1 (closest to the gate) and later, net2 40' that used to catch anything on the move. Today, net2 obliged with 3 Dunnocks, but, hey ho, 2 of these were new. One of them had a "yellow" eye-ring, which I presume was a collection of "eye-lash mites", similar to the one we humans have feasting on us. Any offers of a diagnosis?
The weather was fairly abyssmal, dank and breezy. I picked up Kingfisher, Dipper, Chaffinch and Green Woodpecker on call in the gloom, none of which graced the nets. As we were clearing away, one of the Lotti flocks that was approaching the net burst into sound; the cause, a Sparrowhawk across the end of the net behind young Liz's back. We also had the company of a very large and friendly grey gelding. At one point it checked out the net lane, but it's surprising the effect a thin white guy-line has in turning horses away. [The paddocks are marked out with just two thin white tapes]. It liked the BTO apple very much - excellent crunch!
The day's total was 17 birds of which 14 were ringed and 1 was a local control.
Blue Tit 4
Great Tit 1
Blackcap 1 - a 3F
Wren 2 juvs
Blackbird (1) - ad male of recent origin
Dunnock 2 (1)
Goldfinch 3 - all adult birds
Siskin (1C) - from last winter (early March)
A first glimpse of Liz - holding her first female Blackcap. More of her will be divulged as time goes by!How many more Blackcaps are there out there? One a week at present and no real targetting effort.
It pays to ALWAYS check both legs, especially when a mate rings on the left and yourself on the righ![I did remove the later one].
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