Mountain Blackbird

Now a few days have passed since the clocks went forward Craig, Ian and I are enjoying the late 6.00 a.m. starts at the 'obs' and we were there this morning putting nets up under clear skies with a light ESE wind.

Although the number of Lesser Redpolls we had going over was an increase from Sunday (25th) the 'vis' was generally lighter and all we had were 55 Lesser Redpolls (an excellent count for March), 8 Meadow Pipits, 3 Alba Wags, 8 Siskins, 5 Linnets, 15 Woodpigeons and 440 Knot.

It wasn't really a morning for grounded migrants, but we did have 2 Chiffchaffs and the title bird a stonking male Ring Ouzel! Ian picked it up as it 'dropped' out of the sky and landed on the centre hedge. It then gave us excellent views feeding in a variety of habitats, flying and calling for a good few hours. They used to be regular, during spring in particular, as a coastal migrant but as they have declined they have sadly become scarce. You can still come by them annually on the coast, but you have to put the time in. I only had my 'point and shoot' camera with me so I have used one of Ian's pictures of a male in Spring last year.

 
On the ringing front it was quiet too and we ringed 9 birds as follows:

Lesser Redpoll - 4
Meadow Pipit - 3
Chiffchaff - 1
Wren - 1

Back home my moth trap held 4 Hebrew Characters and 3 Common Quakers.