Some surprises

A slow, but steady, week so far. We were promised better winds but the light southerlies did not materialise, just a very light and variable breeze yesterday. Even today, when we were promised southerlies, the wind is in the north-west, off the sea.

I did manage a few birds, though, but not as many as last week. However, a couple of surprises were in store.

The Goldcrests are either nesting in our one, remaining conifer, or the one on the other side of the road junction. This female was the first of these for a month.


The Siskins also returned after a month's absence; I caught 2 of 2 Friday and 1 of 2 on Saturday (today). The latter was a breeding female with an engorged and wrinkly belly. Her partner stayed calling from above the net.


Total catch - 38 birds. The 'King Harrys' still dominate the catches with every third new bird another Goldfinch.
Goldcrest 1 female with BP
Blue Tit (1)
Great Tit (1)
Willow Warbler 3 - all females
Blackcap 2 - 1 of each
Wren (1)
Blackbird 6 (3) - a new '6 male' looked as if he was working hard (see below)
Robin (3) - 2 brooding females
House Sparrow 1
Goldfinch 12 (1) - mainly migrants carrying fat
Siskin 3



There was a C.Whitethroat singing loudly this morning two doors away! And the male Sparrowhawk came straight down the middle of the net lane and over my head later.