The Chiffchaff Foxtrot

You need to keep up - slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.   

That was the way it went on Sunday, when we were able to have another visit to the water meadows. Few birds early on, followed by a bit of a rush, then a slow down and stop. By the way, we had 110mm of rain last month, which combined with June and July, meant that we had more than twice the summer's average. It's still too wet underfoot to visit our new site on the Levels.                                        

It was an early start, some three quarters of an hour before sunrise. Later, before we caught most of the birds, there was an on-and-off period of drizzle as a front passed over. Things picked up around 9 o'clock. 

Juvenile Chiffchaff - September

The Chiffchaffs dominated with 12 new birds, all youngsters in various stages of post-juvenile moult. Blue Tits were also out in force, with two adults from last year in spanking, new plumage. A turn-up for the books, as far as we're concerned, was a juvenile Whitethroat, a species that normally departs the site by the third week in August. 

Juvenile Whitethroat - September

Altogether, we managed 24 new birds and 3 retraps as follows:

Blue Tit 5 (2)

Chiffchaff 12

Blackcap 1 - 3P male, no fat

Whitethroat 1

Wren (1) - this year's juv 

Song Thrush 1

Robin 2

Dunnock 1 - an adult male in full moult

Chaffinch 1

Other noticeable birds around were three Grey Herons, making their way to the coast and two flocks of Canada Geese in the opposite direction.

Today, Monday, I returned but it was a little later than yesterday before I unfurled the nets. Although the weather was cloudy at first, the sun appeared by half nine. The wind had also shifted round to the south-west. I did manage a few more Chiffchaffs in ones and twos. Just lately, the Robins have all re-appeared, singing and calling in preparation for establishing their winter territories.

So, 10 new birds and two retraps were all I could muster today, as follows:

Blue Tit (1) - adult female from Jan 2011

Long-tailed Tit 1 -juv in heavy moult

Chiffchaff 6 (1) - 100% juvs again

Blackcap 1 - 3 female, fat 20

Song Thrush 1 - adult male in moult

Robin 1

Bird-watching in between realised the local Swallows, about 24 in all, family parties of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch milling about and a Wood sandpiper, travelling upstream, that didn't stop.

At some time, if we're lucky, we might catch one or two adult Chiffs. These will be from more northern climes, as our local 'mums and dads' always seem to leave in August, before or during their complete summer moult.

The last week has seen jersey and Garden Tigers in the garden, plus many other butterflies, including up to 3 Painted Ladies at once.

If the weather holds, we will be out again as often as possible during September. as October is "deadly" and November is only good for passing Siskins .