Brrr!

Jeeps, it's cold in this gale. Nothing to what we could get in Norway or SGSSI but my bones are 40+ years older now. We have none but there's snow on the hills all around us.

Not a lot going on these last few days. Down on the meadows, the Egret numbers yo-yo between 4 and 1, the Redwings come and go (on passage), the Jackdaw numbers have increased to 6 pairs - and the pied one that comes in the garden is still without a partner.  Today, 6 Lesser Black-backs were loafing with a couple of Herring Gulls in with the horses. Here, the Blackcaps sing - and fight - and we have had them joining the choir of Siskins and Goldfinches up in the Ash trees. Another visitor to theses trees has been several Rooks, chewing off twigs to refurbish their nests up the nearby lane. The increase in passing Chaffinches has been the only noticeable thing around the feeders.

Someone has recently cleared last year's nest from the asbestos roof next door where the Herring Gulls breed. Currently, there are 3 or even 4 pairs parading daily on the roof and last years 'tenants' are busy replacing their "mattress" up agin the boiler stack. 

Recently, I re-caught an old-time Blue Tit, shewn below. Since ringing, it had contracted leg mange [visible on the ringed leg]. It had lost its other foot completely [bone poking out]. Otherwise, it seemed in good health and coping well. Perhaps a grant from "Help for Heroes"?

Now for some totals for the week:

Blue Tit 1 (3)

Blackcap (1)

Wren (1)

Blackbird (1)

Robin 1 (2)

Chaffinch 3

Goldfinch 4 (1)

Siskin 17

[New 26, re-traps (10), species 8]

Definitely a time of Siskin passage, with one bird re-caught 3 days later. A re-trapped Wren and a re-trapped Blue Tit were originally ringed as 3J's last summer.

Neighbouring ringer, John, caught one of my 4F Chaffinches after 151 days and a 6M Siskin ringed here in mid-Feb. I retaliated with one of his SK's ringed just last week. He also caught another adult SK from Karen, a local C ringer, from last spring (368 days).

There was a Dipper singing here until a Landcruiser came along!

The strong winds combined with low temperatures have stopped play for a few days. The bird tables have blown over and are now guyed to the nearest cover. And refilled! So far, they are still standing. Current SFH consumption is nearing 2kg per day and sultanas approx 100-125 grams. And then there is all the other stuff - Nyger, mixed seed, mealworms, brown bread, fat balls, peanuts both shelled and 'as dug'.

Egrove sheep field - looking towards Exmoor
[WSR Swindon shed in middle ground]