Autumn migration

I have just spent two wonderful days catching and ringing birds at the country park. Most of the summer breeders have left, but a few are still at large while some are very noticeable. My friend, DK, had a Turtle Dove the other day and on Friday I had a Redstart. We both had Spotted Flycatcher on the Friday, 1 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Here's where the two were 'fly-catching' from (bird 11 o'clock from dead centre).[My Fuji camera only does 10x zoom, but it suits most of the time]

However, there have been tens of Chiffchaffs collecting in loose groups around the park over the last week as the strong winds have prevented them from moving on. There was a record number seen in"one bush" of 14; the previous best was of 6. This weather has also stopped us from putting up nets, too; they blow and are visible in the wind and we don't like them getting caught "in the bushes" (it rips them, you see). Below is a Chiff being weighed in a soft plastic cone.

There were plenty of Chiffs about on both days, more so on the Saturday when I saw 5 unringed birds. By Sunday, the vast majority had moved out.
If I put the two days (Fri/Sat) together, we managed to ring the following:
Gt. Spot Woodpecker 1 (a young male just gaining its adult type plumage), Wren 3, Dunnock 8 (the oldest was x in '07), Robin 4 all on the 2nd day, Blackbird 6 (1 from '03, 1 from '05 & 1 from '07), Blackcap 7 (2 one day, 5 the next), Chiffchaff 16 (only one retrap, a female from April, the rest were 'birds of the year'), Long-tailed Tit 7 (with 2 from 2007), Blue Tit 18, Great Tit 20, Chaffinch 2, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 4, Bullfinch 4.

The Friday (day 1), I had a net by the new feeder site and caught 15 of the Great Tits; on day 2, when we didn't put a net by the feeders, we thought we'd caught more Blue Tits. But this was only in comparison to their larger cousins, as we'd ringed 8 plus had 2 retraps the day before.

There were quite a few female Chiffs in the catch on day 2. The wing lengths are different between the sexes which helps alot. It had turned cloudy again overnight Fri/Sat and several birds were obviously fresh in (i.e. had become 'grounded' due to the weather). We can tell this by looking at the fat levels and checking the weights.

As for the Blackcaps, 5 of the 7 were trapped on day 2. Again, I suspect that they had decided to 'drop in' as the skies clouded over and the stars/moon became invisible. So far, we are up on average numbers for this species, but 7 birds shy of the 86 we ringed here in 2007. The male bird above is still showing signs (feathers) of its youth in its crown. Likewise, Chiffies are well ahead of any previous total. They are, after all, one of my favourite birds.

One of the young Goldfinches, going through is post-juvenile moult - some red crown feathers peeking through!