Last night’s weather forecast was highly marginal for ringing, but being full of enthusiasm for more migrant thrushes Will and I met up at 0645 on Rawcliffe Moss, taking a chance that any early rain would clear quickly. Our optimism was somewhat misplaced and we spent an hour or more waiting for the drizzle to clear, the clouds to lift and a chance to open nets.
The 360 degrees overcast sky kept the thrushes back, with just small parties of Redwings and Fieldfares finding their way through the murk as dawn broke. We quickly caught six thrushes but had to close nets as rain closed in. The initial thrush movement totalled only 50+ Redwing, 35 Fieldfare, 12+ Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush and 1 Mistle Thrush. We caught finches later as the cloud broke from the west or headed north, but the corresponding increase in wind speed probably put a block on more migration through our immediate location.
Today’s new birds: 7 Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 3 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush. We also recaptured 2 Goldfinches and a Robin.
“Birding” birds noted this morning in addition to the above mentioned thrushes: 20+ Siskin, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Brambling, 80+ Chaffinch, 50+ Goldfinch, 10 Reed Bunting, 12 Alba wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, 8 Golden Plover, 8 Snipe, 800 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Magpie, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker.
The weather for the next three or four days doesn't look too good for either birding or ringing, but if there's half a chance watch this space for news and views.
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8 comments:
British robins are ever so very much cuter than North American robins.
I can sure understand why birds have to be investigated as possible carriers of the tree disease, but I hope they aren't the guilty parties.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Hey Phil...I bet you have written me of ...thought I fell and was in the hospital again ..died and gone to heaven? lol
Boy when the weather changes it doesn't take long for you to go right to town and get those posts out .I have a hard time keeping up !!
That is the cutest picture of the Robin...and I have thought before ( I do sometimes) what birds could carry with them when they pack there bags and leave town...that parsite study would be interesting!
Good luck with that!
Grace
Will be watching for news and views;) That Robin is precious. Our Robins are quite nice, but yours are really a lovely colour. Have a good week Phil~
Que buenos primeros planos de las últimas fotografías Phil, suerte que el tiempo acompaña en tus salidas. Un abrazo amigo
Love the pic of the robin. It'll be interesting to hear about the results of the research in the parasite.
Estupendo como siempre, un placer haberme pasado de nuevo.
Saludos y un abrazo.
very interested to follow along... nice work... beautiful study
Beautiful captures!! Your Robins are so pretty over there!
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