Nothing to do but wait

For Spring, that is. It's a glorious day outside; we have the doors and windows open. And we wait for the returning migrants, the first of which will be the Chiffchaff.

Not a lot to report since last time for two reasons. The first, mis-perscribing, kept me "off piste" [the deep white stuff on the first floor] with a temperature of 105F, and the second because all the residents are too busy singing their hearts out, keeping any new-comers out of the netting area.

When I have sneaked in an early hour or two in my dressing gown, I have managed to amass 16 new birds and 7 re-traps of a dozen species. They have been a fairly typical grouping for this time of year (and place).

Long-tailed Tit

Blue Tit 1 (1)
Great Tit 1
Long-tailed Tit 2
Blackcap (3 individuals)
Blackbird 2 (1)
Redwing 2
Robin 2
Dunnock (4)
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 4 (1)
Siskin 1
Bullfinch 1

2CY Robin

Now the top five species this year so far are:

Goldfinch 50
Redwing 10
Greenfinch 9
Blackcap 8
Bullfinch 7

Male 2CY Bullfinch

One of the more recent Blackcaps had put on a bit of fat. Each time I catch one of the 'residents', I check the tracheal pit to get some idea of its "migratory state". As the winter has gone on, weights have increased but no fat has appeared - until just recently. A young female that has been around for the last 6 weeks (at least) suddenly revealed a fat score of F3 (ESF), indicating that she might be "off" soon. It just needs a clear night for her to head east to the continent - or even north.

Two new Robins on consecutive days seems a bit strange, but as the species is a partial migrant, perhaps these two were also partial to a bit of migrating! Still can't catch those damned Chaffinches; I'll have to make a new drop trap or a small clap net!

Chiffchaff

PS. We've had at least 10 Common Frogs in our 4ft by 4ft concrete pond at the back and it's now chocabloc with frog spawn. Perhaps the all-night 'grunting' will now cease!
PPS. First Buff-tailed Bumblebee queen today; allsorts of plants now flowering.