A typical weather-affected December has resulted in few ringing sessions, but a brief interlude in the wind and rain allowed us to get a session in on the 16th of the month. The forecast of a strengthening north-westerly wind that was likely to curtail the session mid-morning did not turn out to be correct, and we were able to carry on until midday.
The day total is below:
|
Species
|
New
|
Recaptured
|
Total
|
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
|
Dunnock
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
|
Robin
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
|
Blackbird
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Song Thrush
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Blackcap
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Goldcrest
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Coal Tit
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Blue Tit
|
12
|
45
|
57
|
|
Great Tit
|
3
|
13
|
16
|
|
Chaffinch
|
18
|
2
|
20
|
|
Brambling
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
|
Greenfinch
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
|
Goldfinch
|
16
|
7
|
23
|
|
Siskin
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Reed Bunting
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
|
Total:
|
67
|
76
|
143
|
The highlights were as follows:
- Probably the last blackbird of a record year for the species. This was our 57th individual of 2017.
- A first winter female blackcap captured in a net set for reed buntings emerging from a roost.
- A good haul of finches, which included a control goldfinch, a record day total of three brambling, and an unseasonal (for the site) siskin (we capture our siskins between late January and July).
There was a very good turn out, so we took a group shot. Bird pics from Stephen Vickers and Kirsty Franklin also included below,
Photos are below
Owain Gabb
21/12/2017
 |
| L-R: Jo Conway, Val Wilson, Owain Gabb, Emma Cole, Sophie de Grissac, Keith Vaughton, Wayne Morris, Edward O’Connor, Martin Thomas, Stephen Vickers, Heather Coats, Kirsty Franklin, Sarah Davies and Alex McCubbin. |
Bramblings and goldfinches are surely happy to be ringed by a so sympathic group …