At last, a long-awaited ringing session when the BBC promised a drop in wind speed with a tiny window of dry weather, the first time Will and I had managed to get to Lee Farm since 20 November, when we caught 49 birds. In the meantime Will kept up the food drops for the local Tree Sparrows and for the Chaffinches which roost half a mile away.
The morning wasn’t nearly as good as promised, with heavy cloud from the off and little bouts of drizzle which turned to rain and then aborted the session at 10am. We caught just 14 birds, 11 new and 3 recaptures from 20 November. New birds: 8 Chaffinch, 2 Tree Sparrow and 1 Great Tit. Recaptures: 2 Chaffinch and a Blue Tit.
After the rain of recent weeks the track proved heavy going, even in wellies.
On the way home I found 2 Buzzards sitting in the rain atop telegraph poles, so fired off a few shots - at ISO1600 again. One of the Buzzards had a comment about the less than ideal morning.
Sue tells me our friendly neighbourhood Sparrowhawk was back in the garden this morning, no wonder there are no small birds about.
