Rainshine

That just about sums up the week just gone, week 44. We've had an inch of rain (25 mm), heavy at times, with several rainbows visible. The low sunshine, when it's been there, has been very brilliant. So, all in all, a scourge as regards the nets, which have alternated in their usefulness by being highly visible, blowing like mad or full of autumn leaves versus hanging limp and full (I use that word loosely) of birds. I haven't reached 1,000 new birds for the year yet and the meadows have become 'out of action', now that the horses are back in for the winter. Their persistent inquisitiveness puts the nets and themselves in danger.

As it happens, the week wasn't a complete disaster. Birds were on the move as the temperatures dropped close to freezing. There wasn't an evident overnight passage at all that I could determine, just a steady trickle some mornings as the skies brightened up.  The Robins sang to greet the day. Another week like this one and I will just surpass the 'magic' 1,000 new birds for the year.

Eurasian Robin

The species tally was a pleasant spread of 14, contributing to 41 new and 7 re-captured birds over five of the seven days. Nothing out of the ordinary but nice to see the LTTs making an appearance. There are still some "summer migrants" about, but these could well be the "wintering type" from across the continent.

Male Blackcap - winter

Goldcrest 4 - all males, 2 of which were adult (age class 4)

Blue Tit 6 (3)

Great Tit 1 - adult female

Coal Tit 2 - 1 adult bird, probably male

Long-tailed Tit 5 (1) - r/t was one of the 1st birds caught on the site

Chiffchaff 1 - long-winged adult male (4M)

Blackcap 2 - both 1CY males

Wren 1 (1)

Robin 1 (1)

Dunnock 1

House Sparrow 3

Chaffinch 1 - adult female

Greenfinch 1 - adult male

Goldfinch 12 (1) - 7 new birds were adults

Overhead, we find the early morning Starlings travelling off west to some unknown feeding ground or other, shortly followed by a squad of Black-headed Gulls in from the coast. Neither of these species are common during the breeding season. The Herring Gulls have found reinforcements to fill the gap left by the Lesser Black-backs that have long since moved to warmer winter quarters. The Mistle Thrushes have taken up sentry duty on the two berry laden Holly trees and a Nuthatch is calling from the lane.

November Goldfinch - completing moult, carrying a tick

Domestically, we have been 'off-line' for much of the week (half-term) and without a land-line all week. The telephone company (BT) came yesterday and spent all morning renewing the line (which was broken in two places) into our property and, subsequently, our broadband speed has jumped twofold now that the hub also has a direct connection.

A dreadful week

And not just talking about the weather, either. That has been bad enough, stopping the painters from getting on with painting the outside as quickly as they had hoped. It, the weather, has been grey and miserable, with long periods of drizzle since the weekend. Today, it increased in intensity - and the wind picked up, too. This has meant I've only been able to net for four, quite short periods since my last missive.

With the wind turning to the north in the east of the country and thousands of birds making landfall on the coast, the autumn migration is really underway at last. Down here in the south-west, the most noticeable event has been the increase in Starlings, with flocks of 25-50 passing overhead. This is a species which breeds in the village in small numbers; they like the thatch but the owners don't like the birds so exclude them with wire netting along the eaves.   
            

I have heard just 2 Fieldfare south, seen a couple of dozen Redwing/Song Thrushes moving north-east and witnessed the unusual sight of ca. 25 Mistle Thrushes over the garden. Other returnees include a Nuthatch working the nearby tree lines and a pesky Grey Squirrel taking advantage of my fat-balls. The trap has come out of store. Say no more.

Well, on to the 18 new birds caught and the 7 re-traps:          Goldcrest 3, Blue Tit (1), Great Tit 2 (4), Coal Tit 3 (1), Blackcap 1, Blackbird 2, Chaffinch 1, Greenfinch 2 & Goldfinch 4 (1). 

All birds were at about their average weight and fat scores that one would expect for this time of year with the current temperatures (that are due to collapse and go minus tonight), with the exception of one male Goldcrest that weighed in at 4.8g; not a disaster if it could find sufficient food before nightfall.

Starling - I do kinda miss them

 Remember the clocks go back to GMT this weekend with the consequence of lighter mornings for a while.

Back home

We're up and running again!

Last week I returned to Bedford to attend to family matters and to do some shopping while I was there. I was back home last weekend and managed to get in one day's ringing before I was off again. The weather was not very conducive for much migration to take place, but I gave it a go in the orchard between the intermittent showers.

Birds caught (22) and ringed (19):

Collared Dove 1

Gt. Spotted Woodpecker 1 - young female (5ogc)

Blue Tit 5 (1) - just 2 juvs.

Coal Tit 2 (2)

Wren 1 - cock bird

Chaffinch 2 - of the female persuasion

Goldfinch 5

Siskin 2 - both adult males

Fema;e 1CY Gt. Spot. Woodpecker - note a few red feathers in the crown but buff collar

This was very much the same fare as recent efforts and typical of the month of October. Three species were conspicuous by their absence - Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird and Dunnock.

I then had the pleasure of travelling east and meeting up with my sole surviving 'C' permit  holder from Bedfordshire days. [My other 'C's and 'T's all opted to transfer to senior members within the ringing group.] It turned out that the weather was not very conducive  to "non-stop" ringing once again; being near the coast made it doubly so. A vigorous front passed backwards and forwards over much of southern England, depositing fair amounts of rain that caused local flooding.

However, I was able to ring plenty of my favourite bird - Goldfinch, while Amanda got stuck into Lesser Redpolls. My trainee got to grips with a few 'crests ... but I did wrest a Firecrest from her, the second this year, but eons away from the previous two, which were 'ringing ticks' at that time.

Male 1CY Firecrest

Back home, the weather improved albeit slowly, enabling me to erect a net in the orchard ready for the morning. It so happened that the day, (today), although not spectacular from a meteorological standpoint, turned out to be a steady one and I had 32 new birds by the end (tea-time actually), plus 4 "I had prepared earlier".

Total for the session, covering 9 species:

Goldcrest 3 - included all tail shapes, Euring ages 2, 3 & 4

Blue Tit 4 (1)

Great Tit 3 (2)

CoalTit 6 - all juvs.

Blackcap 1 - 1CY male

Robin 1 (1) - the ringed bird from July as a juv.

Chaffinch 1 - young male

Greenfinch 1 - adult female (1st for a while)

Goldfinch 12 - 50% adults

Male 1CY Goldcrest

The Siskins turned up late in the day but decided on a collaborative effort and stayed high over. One or two often arrive at 'first light' but always sneak in from next door and return the same way. I'll be moving the feeders the other side of the net to see if that entices them.

The weather promises to be 'fair' for a few days after misty starts; who knows, we may be in for some more birds to ring.

Note: individual birds that have been recaptured are always given in brackets, (n), on my blog

Allez oop

Despite the weather it has been a good week in most respects. I have been able to do some ringing every day, though Tuesday only saw 1 new Blue Tit in the bag before the wind got up.           

The garden produced 96 new birds (10, 1, 16, 11, 12, 26, 20) and 13 recaptures of 10 species using one 60' in our small orchard. Thursday morning at  Highbridge meadows yielded 21 new plus 3 re-traps including a new species, Grewo, originally from Five Bells, a couple of km to the north-west. There was a passage of Chaffinches but no Mipits or Swallows. Saturday at the meadows saw the temperature down to 0C with clear skies and just 4 new AA rings plus 2 re-traps. 12 Jays moved overhead from the direction of the Crown Estate (mainly coniferous) towards the Quantocks (large tracts of deciduous) at 08:30 and 4 Meadow Pipits took an interest in the "tape" but decided to avoid the net and moved on. Just 2 lone Swallows were seen hastening south. There was a noticeable increase in the number of Siskin feeding high in the Alders, which coincided with their attraction to the garden feeders.

Siskin - male 2CY (October)

*** Birds trapped at the meadows = 25 (4):
Green Woodpecker - control
Blue Tit 1 (1)
Great Tit 4
Long-tailed Tit 7 (3)
Chiffchaff 5
Wren 1
Blackbird 1
Robin 1
Dunnock1
Chaffinch 4

The main event at the house was the number of Goldfinches that appeared from Tuesday onwards. Until now, it has just been the local birds - that know their way around the feeders without getting caught too often.

1CY Goldfinch - After PJ moult

1CY Goldfinch - During PJ moult

 *** Birds caught at the house = 96 (12) [excludes any same week re-traps]
Blue Tit 10 (6)
Great tit 3 (1)
Coal Tit 8 (1) - 2 adults
Chiffchaff 2 - both 'long-winged' @ 64mm
Robin (3)
Dunnock 1
House Sparrow 1
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 59 (1) - a dozen adults, F=M
Siskin 10 - influx Fri/Sat (6/7th Oct); 8 adults, 2 juvs

Coal Tit - 1CY

Just thought that I'd show some "rear views" for a change. I will be going to be away from the village for much of the next two weeks and therefore ringing at the house will have to be snatched "as and when". However, my pliers will be in use elsewhere!

Norfolk

Apart from having to tow a caravan 265 miles to Snettisham, and back, it was a relaxed week visiting friends and family, back in Jenny's "homeland" and a place where I have spent many, many days birding, either alone, with pals or leading birding holidays.

Amber relaxing on holiday

Apart from seeing and hearing the Pink-feet going over to the salt marshes every morning, and seeing the fantastic Knot flock being moved by the tide, the highlight was being able to see the "Sea-Henge" exhibition in the Kings Lynn Museum at last. I was also able to take Jenny to the spot where it was built way back in 2049 BC, where we used to go to catch Sanderling. Back then, we just assumed it was part of a fossilised forest.

Now for a family pic - Jenny and her younger brother, John, at his 14th century farmhouse.

Jenny & John King

 ... and afterwards, J & A at Knettishall Heath in the evening sun.

We followed up a lead from Dawn Balmer (and family) and found "Natural Surroundings", a cafe and nature reserve tucked away on the Bayfield Estate. It was a surprise to be greeted by an old ringing friend, Andrew Cannon - and also to see four Red Squirrels from another friend's place, namely Bill Jordan's Pensthorpe reserve. The pictures are rubbish since these critters just wizz around at frenetic speed!

H S R S 

'Natural Surroundings'

Andrew sells Norfolk produced sunflower hearts that have a high oil content at £30 for 20 kg. Get some if you're in the area! A bargain!