A calm clear night promised a morning of ringing without the nagging wind of recent weeks. But the temperature dropped so much overnight that when I switched on the wipers to clear the dew laden glass the blades were in a semi-frozen state and dragged slowly across the windscreen. Thirty minutes later at 0530 Ian and I had our nets up at Out Rawcliffe but with me still in a jacket and woolly hat, waiting for the sun to rise and warm the air.
Our catch was very similar to last week, with yet more adult Willow Warblers in stages of their full moult, a number of 3J Whitethroat and Goldfinch, but with the season now into July there was a further lack of juvenile Willow Warblers and no sign of any Sedge Warbler success.
We processed 24 birds, 15 new and 9 recaptures. New: 3 Whitethroat, 4 Goldfinch, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker and 1 Great Tit. Recaptures: 3 Whitethroat, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler and 1 Great Tit. So, a good range of species but lacking any substance to the overall total for our 2 x 5 hour effort.
The birding morning was similarly quiet with 2 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, a female Sparrowhawk, 4 Skylark, 2 Corn Bunting, 1 Mistle Thrush, 18 Goldfinch and several Tree Sparrow, with a single overhead Raven heading east again. A nearby field held a flock of post-breeding Lapwings with a minimum of 130 birds. A slight oddity of the morning came in the form of 3 Siskin high overhead but heading south.
My trips to the moss wouldn’t be complete without sighting of a Little Owl. Sometimes they are not in the expected spots and it may take a little extra looking to locate one, like today when I passed likely looking but vacant corners then spotted a familiar round blobby shape on a distant telegraph pole.
The Great spotted Woodpecker is a beautiful bird, but few would be as beautiful as the Goldfinch. The Little Owl - all owls for that matter - seem to have a gift for remaining inconspicuous.
ReplyDeleteAbout you and Ian, both of you seem to get up early even on cold mornings. And were you dressed like the Phil we see in your profile picture?
nice set of birds. I have seen the little owl once. A nice little bird. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of birds. Nice to get such good photos as a side benefit of banding (ringing, I think you say) them.
ReplyDeleteLove that little round owl! So cute, and I'll have to look for one next time I'm across your way.
I admire your dedication even on a cold morning! The Goldfinch is beautiful. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteHI Phil, Well that last shot is quite surprising and funny and just shows that sometime you see things at an unexpected time and location;-) Beautiful pictures once again and nice captures!!
ReplyDeleteLove the Lapwing in flight photo and a wonderful portraits of the Woody and Goldginch. Sounds a bit cooler there than here....sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteExcellente
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Tank you for sharing
Beautiful Goldfinch!
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