Some Solace at the Equinox

A better week brought about by better weather and some welcome sunshine - for much of the time! The best day in the garden was today, Sunday.

The "semi-resident" female Blackcap spent much of each morning feeding away in the Camellia, now in full bloom (see last week's blog entry); this pissed off the pair of Robins and the result was a draw.

I played about with the nets and the feeders, trying to find the optimum layout in the orchard. Ever hamstrung by the badly cared for and mis-shaped apple trees (nobody thought of reducing the top growth), there are now 4 nets instead of the 2 that worked well when I was able to ground feed the Bramblings and Chaffinches.

The highlights were a male Goldcrest, a second straight forward collybita Chiff (most likely the one that sings from the trees in Union Lane, 5 doors away), a couple of moving Siskins and a 5M Brambling with a very low weight, fat and muscle score that must be on the move, too.


Wing detail of said 2CY Bramblefinch.

Here then is the list of the 16 species handled over the last seven days:
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit 3 (1)
Great Tit 2
Coal Tit 1 (1)
Long-tailed Tit 3 (1)
Chiffchaff 3 **see below**
Blackcap (1)
Wren (1)
Blackbird 1 (2)
Robin (2) - nesters from other gardens
Dunnock (1)
House Sparrow 3
Chaffinch 1
Brambling 1
Greenfinch 6 (2) + 2 local movers (2km)
King Harry's 12 (5)
Siskin 2

***Stop Press*** Have just caught second Chiff, this one with a wing of 66m, [e6,wp4/5,2=8] with a weight of 13.3g, fat 35, muscle 2; has to be another abietinus.

This weekend is the Spring Gala of the WSR (West Somerset Railway). Just a couple of pics from yesterday.


SR 30777 "Sir Lamiel" [4-6-0 King Alfred class] tender first, passing cleared signal for Williton down platform.


'Brit' 70000 [4-6-2 West Country Pacific] starting up the incline from Williton station to Stogumber. Almost the same view from our bedroom.



Williton station in the early morning sun.
Notice the newly refurbished footbridge ex Trowbridge that was returned and lifted into position by the contractors, TEMA, on Wednesday 16th. Not much ringing done that day. Just need to fit the wooden steps and find £20K for the roof and lighting!