There was a strange light, with bright sun at times and heavy black clouds rolling in from the sea just skirting us. Eight hours produced 8 new birds and 6 re-traps. A pair of these returnees were Long-tailed Tits. The presumed male I ringed way back last January and his consort was a juvenile when first trapped in July. The Robin was a local fledgling also in July and the 'young' male Blackbird has been around for the last three months or so. The already-ringed Blue Tit had bred hereabouts and was safely sexed as a female; the other three were all juveniles (from now aged as 'Euring 5' until the breeding season), part of a roving winter population and of unknown origins.
So to the surprise.
It was only a few weeks ago that I noticed a pair/two Grey Wagtails flying west over the garden. During the summer, I quite often encountered one or two down at the meadows but never caught one despite those intentions. Today's (Monday) was a young female but whether it is a locally bred bird or "a grockle" from "up north" or Scotland , we shall probably never know. In the second photo, you can just make out the two generations of tertial feathers.
[ Apologies for the poor performance - the light conditions were awful and I didn't have time to mess about].Here's the list. With gales and heavy rain on the agenda for the next three or four days, I won't be adding to my 2012 score for a while, although a certain trainee is urging me to get out at the weekend.
Blue Tit 3 (1)
Long-tailed Tit (2)
Blackbird 1 (1) - a new 6 male
Robin 1 (1)
Dunnock (1)
Grey Wagtail 1 - new species
Chaffinch 1 - a 6 female
Goldfinch 1 - a 5 female
Sparrowhawk 0 - a male in full pursuit of 2 Collared Doves, it ricochetted near the pole and was away (the 2nd bird in the garden today, the other a female)
We'll see, whether or not we get out soon.
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