Red letter, Yellow letter

The stiff wind has put paid to any garden ringing for a couple of days or so.

It's not been 'all bad' as the migrants are still (were) passing through. Even another Lesser Redpoll (or whatever - subject to lumping again?)

I do love these coverts!

(Lesser) Redpoll

It's been up and down by species but overall things are looking good. The only worry is the severe lack of insects as is shown by the Phylloscs feeding on the ground, especially early in the day. The Blackcaps continue to queue up for their ready-soaked sultanas (7 in view around one bird table the other day) before attacking the Ivy berries.

2CY female Blackcap
(3CY+ females have a proper chestnut cap)

Two of the over-wintering Blackcaps were re-caught - two 3CY females at 24.0 g and  24.3 g (early morning), both ESF fat 5. On the other hand, a returning 3CY male only weighed 18.1 g, still holding on to a small amount of fat after his return migration.

We have been graced with two Common Redstarts, a young female and a young male, the latter staying for a morning and finding its way into and out of the fruit cage. 

Common Redstarts - 2CY female (top), 2CY male

At the same time, the Siskins continue to find the Nyger seed ... and some the net (the sheltered one, between the bare Apple trees).

male Siskin (April)

Since the last blog, the birds caught are as under:

Blue Tit 1 - female, thinking of breeding (no proper BP)

Great Tit 1 - cocky adult male

Long-tailed Tit 1 - a hen with a nest somewhere hereabouts

Chiffchaff 5 - all the fairer (and smaller) sex

Willow Warbler 17 - looks like the ladies now outnumber the men 2 to 1

Blackcap 30 (4) - plus several same period retraps

Wren (1)

Blackbird 2 - both brooding hens

Robin 1 - a new, full adult male

Redstart 2 - both 2CY as told by their old greater coverts

Dunnock 1 (2) - 

Chaffinch (1) - the cock minus a foot caused by 'leg mange'

Greenfinch (1 control) - ringed as a 2CY male 2 winters ago

Goldfinch 4 - 2 male, 2 female; a rather 'chunky' male off somewhere

Siskin 11 - in all stages of abrasion into breeding plumage

Lesser Redpoll 1 - 4th of the year

Bullfinch (1) - the male hatched 2011, now in full glory.

Total - 77 new + 10 retraps