Thursday morning brought early frost and mist but nothing like the freezing fog of the day before. So I set off for the hills and Oakenclough to catch up with the ringing I’d missed on Wednesday when Andy clocked up another 27 birds.
There’s a good throughput of birds at the moment and it’s pretty apparent that we are witnessing the beginnings of Spring migration for a number of species, especially of Lesser Redpoll and Chaffinch. Bird migration takes place on a broad front, including inland sites like ours, whereby the previous year’s breeding haunts often receive the earliest migrants keen to grab the best nesting sites. Although migration at coastal sites can be obvious, sometimes dramatic or even spectacular, at inland sites it is generally much less evident.
Today we caught 24 new birds and 5 recaptures. New: 8 Chaffinch, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Goldcrest.
Recaptures: 3 Great Tit, 1 Chaffinch and 1 Dunnock.
Missing today were Goldfinches around the feeders which resulted in their first blank on the winter field sheets. Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Great Tit numbers are much reduced as most have moved off site to nest. The resident Dunnocks are sorting out their domestic arrangements with much chasing around hence our catch of 4 individuals today - 2 males and 2 females.
I posted portraits from the morning, birds only - click the pics to see the close-ups.
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll
Goldcrest
After each ringing session there’s the data input so the work is far from over.
Ringer's Field Sheet
Birding wise proved pretty quiet with pairs of Mistle Thrush, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtails and Song Thrush much in evidence plus a Jay raiding the bird seed.
Log in soon for more birding, ringing and photography.
Linking today to Anni's Blog and Eileen's Saturday .
Linking today to Anni's Blog and Eileen's Saturday .
19 comments:
fine looking birds! always love the chaffinch!
The chaffinch is just a perfect bird! All are beautiful. Spring is a time of transition for birds! It's interesting to me that the songbirds here in Florida know it's spring ... Courting, moving around etc., just like everywhere, but there is no perceptible change in the (hot) weather to us mere humans.
Some handsome portraits, Phil. Very quiet here for birds at the moment so I'm glad to get reports from other places. Thank you.
Phil, another lovely series of photos. I don't always know the names of birds so I appreciate you naming the photos of the birds you share here.
I would love to see a Goldcrest this close
Every time I see a Dunnock I appreciate it a little more. It seems to be kind of underrated species but it's a great feisty little bird in my opinion. Having seen several nests too, I know that its eggs are beautiful.
Blanking on Goldfinches here, too. 15 plus locals know the ropes and don't even come to say 'hello' (just eat me out of house and home)
David Gascoigne is so right!! Dunnocks are ace!! NB. not many ringers say that.
Beautiful shots of the birds.
Great collection of shots and birds, Phil! I love the Chaffinch! Thanks for linking up, happy weekend!
wherever is my comment?? ok agaIN A STUNNER THAT CHAFFINCH . i WANT TO FOLLOW A HUMMINGBIRD ACROSS THE SEAS
So sweet. Lovely takes.
Beautiful images Phil. Excellent of the Dunnock.
Beautiful images Phil. Excellent of the Dunnock.
Nice to see the Goldcrest Phil. Had one around my garden this morning. Love the Spring and its change around of birds.
Striking plumage on the Chaffinch, Phil.
Lovely photos of the birds. I'm looking forwardto the chaffinches returning. I've missed them.
Nice post. I always feel sorry for our 'data entry team' when we catch 800+ waders in a session - and then start again on the next tide!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Quiet times in your area too, then, huh? Seems very few Spring migrants are arriving here...but then again, it's been VERY cold and wet. So, maybe for you and me both the early birds, tho few....is a sign of a good season to come shortly.
Freezing fog. Wow.
Love the bird photos and interesting reading the chart you shared...so much work to be done. I envy you.
Thanks for adding your link to this post for the weekend at I'd Rather B Birdin'!!!
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