The spring has been Slow Burn rather than Fast Track North. A couple of weeks of cold weather put a damper on northerly migration and at some point these birds have to get a rush on to bag the optimum breeding spots.
Local bird and WhatsApp news tell of ones and twos only of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, all species that normally arrive in a rush in early April. Hardly anyone has reported Swallows or Sand Martins or even Wheatears. House Martins are a distant dream and Swifts a Lottery Prize.
Thursday morning and at last warms winds from Atlantic West Africa might well deposit both variation and numbers in the hills above Garstang where Oakenclough became the destination and a meet up with Andy and Bryan at unearthly 0615.
Birds caught: 8 Willow Warbler, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Chaffinch 1 Goldfinch, 3 Coal Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird.
At last then, a few Willow Warblers caught, some from previous seasons and as we might expect for mid-April, mostly males and one female. Female LDL516 had been first ringed at Oakenclough 4 June 2020, male LDL808 first ringed on 11 May 2021.
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Goldfinch
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Lesser Redpoll
One of the Lesser Redpolls came with a ring from elsewhere. APN5870 was not one of our rings and may have been ringed north or south of our recapture. After the holiday break we will find out where it was originally ringed.
Visible migration was nil except for two Swallows while a total of 20 birds caught is better than recent efforts as we await the arrival of species such as Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and the two flycatchers, Pied and Spotted.
The holiday weekend will be family time with probably no birding or ringing until Tuesday next. Log in then to Another Bird Blog for the latest news on Spring 2022.
Next week will also see a book review here on the blog, a new book that will interest many birders and wildlife enthusiasts. And it’s a ten quid bargain!
Linking this weekend to Eileen's Saturday and Anni in Texas.
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12 comments:
Hello Phil,
Great captures and beautiful birds. I love the cute Blackcap, the Willow Warbler and Goldfinch is sweet. The Redpoll is a favorite. Happy Easter to you and your family. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your weekend.
Hello Phil, :=) Beautiful photos of these lovely birds. I have never seen a Blackcap with a fan shaped tail. It may have something to do with the way it is being held! The Goldfinch with it's bright coloured feathers is always a delightful sight, and it is a bird I never see in my garden, but I have seen many Swallows on the farm.
All the best, and have a Happy family Easter.
Have a wonderful blessed weekend. I look forward to the book review!
Hopefully, the warm winds will blow favorably and bring migrants winging your way where they will be lining up to receive their new jewelry.
The Blackcap is such a sleek-looking bird whereas the Goldfinch is surely an insecure species which requires it to dress flamboyantly as it calls "look at me, look at me"!
Today is holiday cooking day and tomorrow we're off to feast and visit with the daughter.
Gini and I hope you and Sue enjoy the holiday time with family.
Monday - back to work/birding/ringing!
Dear Phil,
here in Austria (near Vienna) it is currently that cold again (after a few relatively warm days). But at least it finally rained properly - it was about time! I haven't seen any swallows here either. But you made nice "booty". The goldfinch is such a handsome fellow!
All the best from Austria and happy Easter 🐣🐇🐥
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/04/grotrappen-balz-ausflug-zum.html
Beautiful birds!
Happy Easter!
Goodness 6.15am that's early!!!
Thank you for sharing these lovely photographs, always a joy to see beautiful birds.
Enjoy the Easter weekend, the weather forecast looks good.
We will be seeing family ... always a lovely time.
All the best Jan
Nice shots Phil. Happy Easter.
Mike.
I look forward to your book review. Phil, I always enjoy your narration. 615 sounds like my hour ...of leaving home anyway. Great birds. I too think our migration had a late start. Dunno for sure.
Thanks for linking in this week
Swallows and chiffchaff seen/heard in Hambleton this last few days.
Hiya Phil - we arrived in the Northeast Thursday afternoon, and we are having a jolly time. Yesterday, we went for a walk along the River Greta and saw loads of birds (and heard many more). I am by no means a bird expert in the US, much less here, but I am pretty certain that I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Dipper, and a Coal Tit. The Pheasant and Robins were easy to identify. We also saw Lapwings and Curlews flying around the farm fields. What joy! A Happy Easter to you and yours!
Beautiful photos Phil! I love all of the colours the Goldfinch is wearing! Ours are not so colourful! PS I'm so glad to hear your granddaughter is enjoying the videos! My plan is one new video each week so that I have a range of fun things for kids! Thanks for your support on this, it means a lot! ☺☺
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