0745, and after a clear and bright beginning things were rather quiet and just a couple of Goldfinch to show for the first net round. And then about 0900 it seemed that Andy and I might be in for another busy and prolonged morning of ringing when from the north and north-west gangs of Redwings appeared above the treetops to the west and headed towards us. The Redwings flew over and then into the trees behind where a couple of nets are positioned. In an hour we saw about 250+ Redwings mixed with about 50 Fieldfares. Finches came in good numbers too with small flocks of Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch plus two or three Brambling.
We caught in one, twos and threes only. And then about 10 o’clock it seemed that someone had dropped a curtain across the landscape and stopped all visible movement; by 1030 we discussed packing up and by 11o’clock we drove off site.
Our observations between the low numbers processed, and with time on hands to watch, showed that many birds just carried on going, heading south and west, away from our plantation and further inland or towards the coast.
We finished with just 20 birds, way below recent endeavours and something of a disappointment given the visible rush of birds in that single hour: 7 Goldfinch, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit and 1 Greenfinch.
Our Greenfinch had been feeding on rose hip berries, the red fruit of the rose plant and a favourite food of the Greenfinch.
Greenfinch
Rose hips - via Wiki
Greenfinch
At this time of year, and for the purpose of data collection, it is not always possible to determine the sex of a Lesser Redpoll via the plumage. The one below is an adult male and retains some of the summery claret colouring in its breast feathers.
Lesser Redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
Chaffinch
Goldcrest
If the wind stays below 10mph we will have another go at the Cockerham Linnet flock in a day or two. We are up to 73 new birds ringed already, zero recaptures and one from elsewhere in three visits. As usual where birds are concerned, there’s a lot more going on than first meets the eye.
