I kept the ringing pliers oiled and now at last, three months later, we reached the end of the Avian Flu tunnel. DEFRA/APHA revoked the lockdown on 20 February, an overdue move that allowed a resumption of bird ringing in no-go areas introduced on 26 November 2021.
The whole week we itched to go ringing but constant winds wouldn’t allow. And then today when I went to drop supplementary seed the wind in the hedgerow ride seemed bearable and workable. I phoned Andy who didn’t need much persuasion to head over to Cockerham.
By 1030 we had nets up and for the next few hours began to catch birds.
The wind at 10-12 mph was too strong for catching any of the 150+ Linnets in an open field but in the more sheltered ride we caught 20 birds of other species. These were species I’d been seeing but unable to catch for more than 3 months - 7 Chaffinch, 4 Reed Bunting, 3 Blackbird, 5 Blue Tit and 1 Brambling.
The Brambling stole the show, a highly colourful and obvious second year male.
Brambling
Brambling
Bramblings have been scarce in the North West this winter, this particular one my second only in what has been a mild if wet and windy time. During February, March and April any Bramblings we see are likely to have come from further south and now migrating to breeding areas in the forests of Northern Europe and further east into Russia.
Chaffinch
Chaffinch
Two of the Blackbirds were of the “continental” type, second year males with typically pale scalloping on their breast feathers.
Blackbird
Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
Other birds seen - Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 4 Little Egret, 2 Skylark.
It was good to get out today. Here’s hoping we have no more flockdowns that stop our vital work.
More news, views and photos soon.
Linking this weekend to https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com and http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com.
