Another week of green 'n yellow!

Immature male Siskin with a few un-moulted greater coverts
(those fainter feather tips at the front of the wing bar)

A week strong on Siskins, 37 to be precise - plus a few other finches, mainly of the King Harry type, which came in second best at 32. Greenfinches made a better showing with 6 individuals. This all goes to show that there must be a bit of spring passage going on over our heads. 

Immature male Goldfinch
(moult limit not easily discernible)

Immature female Greenfinch
(with quite a few old (paler) greater coverts

These numbers have been accumulated over five early morning sessions. Ringing, or rather catching, drops off fairly smartish after the first two waves of hungry visitors. The wind picking up doesn't help much either, especially from the south.  Although we have a large garden, it is surrounded on two sides by light industry and its subsequent noise and motion pollution during work hours and causal lack of green vegetation apart from the odd conifer.

This week - 58 new plus 19 re-captures & 2 from elsewhere (local ringers' birds):

Adult male Blue Tit
(we haven't seen many of these around this year)

Blue Tit 1

Dunnock (1)

Chaffinch 1

Greenfinch 5 (+1C)

Goldfinch 17 (15)

Siskin 33 (3, +1C)

Bullfinch 1

I have checked the meadows out just recently, now that the water levels have receded and the ground is firmer underfoot. There is need of a fair bit of work in order that we may start catching there again with any success. The only birds of any note were a pair of Buzzards (on the deck) and a pair of displaying Kingfishers. The water, although clearing slightly, is still too deep and fast for the Dippers and Sandpipers.

Adult male Bullfinch, ready for another breeding season
(this bird has no juvenile feathers left - 
and has no green or yellow in its plumage!)

The weekend promises to be fine if a tad windy; perhaps next week will see some new visitors. Here's hoping!