Poles Apart

No two days are ever the same in ringing, a fact reinforced for Will and I this morning when we returned to Rawcliffe Moss secretly hoping for a repeat of Saturdays’ 50+ bird morning. However an overnight clear sky followed by a bright sunny morning didn’t bode well and at 6am as we fed out nets between our bamboo poles the plantation seemed lifeless.

Our fears proved justified when we packed up at 1015 with a catch of just 19 birds, 18 new and 1 recapture. Fortunately we continued with a catch of the same warbler species of past weeks but the individual totals dropped to single digits. New birds: 6 Chaffinch, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Blackcap and 2 Wren. The single recapture was a Blackcap first ringed on Saturday, and seemingly the only leftover from our previous busy morning.

The Tree Pipit was the third caught here so far this autumn, today’s another handsome juvenile.

Tree Pipit
Chaffinch
Linnet
Linnet

There was a small Chaffinch north to south movement - maybe 30+ birds, the first 2 Snipe of the autumn, 2 Grey Wagtail and 2 Sand Martin. We numbered the local Linnet and Goldfinch flocks at about 50 each. “Otherwise birds” seen: 2 Raven heading inland, one harried by a Peregrine, 4 Buzzard, 1 Skylark, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker and 1 Little Owl in the habitual spot.

Little Owl