I’d met up with Andy at Oakenclough at 0630 for a ringing session. All started fairly quiet and uneventful but as the minutes ticked by it became clear that the morning would see the first substantial visible migration of the autumn.
An early highlight was the Osprey that powered in over the trees from the North West about 8am and then turned as if to plunge for a trout in the reservoir. It hovered briefly but then turned again and continued on a southerly track and out of sight to leave the trout for the Cormorants and anglers.
There were plenty of other birds heading south, mainly finches and Swallows, but also 2 Song Thrush. After five hours we had counted 95+ Goldfinch, 45+ Lesser Redpoll, 30+ Chaffinch, 4+ Siskin and 4+ Tree Pipits arriving from the north and heading either into or over our ringing site.
Our catch of 47 birds reflected the species we’d seen plus a few warblers that linger on site and the inevitable tit species of woodland habitat. Totals - 19 Goldfinch, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Tree Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Tit and 1 Goldcrest.
Every single one of the Lesser Redpolls proved to be a recent juvenile, so young in fact that we considered most to be at least second broods, possibly third. Likewise the Goldfinches caught. None of the Lesser Redpolls could be sexed and all but two of the brown-headed Goldfinches were left unsexed.
Lesser Redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
We missed a third Tree Pipit when one climbed out of the mist net before Andy could reach it.
Tree Pipit
On the way home I clocked 2 Buzzard, 15 Pied Wagtails and good numbers of Swallows. At one farm I slowed to see a young Sparrowhawk try to take a Swallow in flight. The Swallow won by easily outmanoeuvring the inexperienced hawk.
The forecast looks OK for Saturday with a wind speed of less than 10mph. If so we’re heading for Gulf Lane and a catch of more Linnets as part of Project Linnet 2017/2018.
Linking today with Eileen's Blog.
Linking today with Eileen's Blog.
They are all so precious, Phil, and I love the little expressions on their faces! What treasures!
ReplyDeletegreat sightings, lovely photos
ReplyDeleteHello, beautiful birds and captures. I am glad you had a successful ringing. I think the birds are on the move here too, I recently saw a migration radar map? Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteThey look like the common sparrows we find here in India.Are they related or different?
ReplyDeleteNice pics of your captures. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThat's a HUGE count! Especially of the goldfinch!
ReplyDeleteGreat experience with lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteReal signs of spring here - despite the hail! - lots of territorial scraps and birds with nesting material. Although total number of picture taken was zero!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Good morning Phil!:) That was a good mornings banding session, and some sweet bird photos. The only birds I have seen this year out of the ones you share is the Chaffinch, and only a few Goldfinch, a pathetic amount, compared to the 30+ and 90 + you saw migrating. It's still very hot here in Portugal, perhaps the reason for no signs of migrating birds yet.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful birds Phil, I always enjoy seeing your photographs.
ReplyDelete...yes, Autumn is on it's way.
All the best Jan