Walking the Plank

Craig, Ian and I were back at Rossall again this morning and we had full cloud cover at first with light east-southeasterly winds. By 0900 the winds had picked up and we started to take the nets down. We put up a new net today which has become known as the 'plank net', as it is a net dissecting the central hedgerow over the ditch and we have had to put in place two 12 foot planks to enable us to put it up. It didn't break it's duck today but I have high hopes for it. Full marks to Ian for sorting out the planks!

 Walking the plank!

The visible migration was a little slow today, although we did have more Meadow Pipits than earlier in the week but less finches. Vis mig totals included 131 Meadow Pipits, 17 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Alba Wags, 3 Siskins and a female Goosander east! Probably the best bird of the morning.

The only grounded migrants we had were the Chiffchaff that we ringed and 5 male Wheatears. We observed some migratory behaviour from a group of 4 Blue Tits and 6 Great Tits that dropped in, moved through, and headed north.

We ringed 18 birds as follows:

Chiffchaff - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 2
Goldfinch - 1
Meadow Pipit - 7
Linnet - 2
Blue Tit - 2
Great Tit - 3

 Blue Tit

Chiffchaff

Great Tit

Lesser Redpoll

Linnet

Meadow Pipit

Back at home my moth trap held Hebrew Character and 2 each of Common Quaker and Early Grey. The forecast looks okay for tomorrow so Ian and I will be back at the 'obs'.