Rainshine

That just about sums up the week just gone, week 44. We've had an inch of rain (25 mm), heavy at times, with several rainbows visible. The low sunshine, when it's been there, has been very brilliant. So, all in all, a scourge as regards the nets, which have alternated in their usefulness by being highly visible, blowing like mad or full of autumn leaves versus hanging limp and full (I use that word loosely) of birds. I haven't reached 1,000 new birds for the year yet and the meadows have become 'out of action', now that the horses are back in for the winter. Their persistent inquisitiveness puts the nets and themselves in danger.

As it happens, the week wasn't a complete disaster. Birds were on the move as the temperatures dropped close to freezing. There wasn't an evident overnight passage at all that I could determine, just a steady trickle some mornings as the skies brightened up.  The Robins sang to greet the day. Another week like this one and I will just surpass the 'magic' 1,000 new birds for the year.

Eurasian Robin

The species tally was a pleasant spread of 14, contributing to 41 new and 7 re-captured birds over five of the seven days. Nothing out of the ordinary but nice to see the LTTs making an appearance. There are still some "summer migrants" about, but these could well be the "wintering type" from across the continent.

Male Blackcap - winter

Goldcrest 4 - all males, 2 of which were adult (age class 4)

Blue Tit 6 (3)

Great Tit 1 - adult female

Coal Tit 2 - 1 adult bird, probably male

Long-tailed Tit 5 (1) - r/t was one of the 1st birds caught on the site

Chiffchaff 1 - long-winged adult male (4M)

Blackcap 2 - both 1CY males

Wren 1 (1)

Robin 1 (1)

Dunnock 1

House Sparrow 3

Chaffinch 1 - adult female

Greenfinch 1 - adult male

Goldfinch 12 (1) - 7 new birds were adults

Overhead, we find the early morning Starlings travelling off west to some unknown feeding ground or other, shortly followed by a squad of Black-headed Gulls in from the coast. Neither of these species are common during the breeding season. The Herring Gulls have found reinforcements to fill the gap left by the Lesser Black-backs that have long since moved to warmer winter quarters. The Mistle Thrushes have taken up sentry duty on the two berry laden Holly trees and a Nuthatch is calling from the lane.

November Goldfinch - completing moult, carrying a tick

Domestically, we have been 'off-line' for much of the week (half-term) and without a land-line all week. The telephone company (BT) came yesterday and spent all morning renewing the line (which was broken in two places) into our property and, subsequently, our broadband speed has jumped twofold now that the hub also has a direct connection.