A Slow Start

It was a slow start this morning at the 'obs' until it warmed up a bit and the sun burnt some of the murk off. Craig, Ian and I met at 5.15 a.m. and it was fairly misty with a light southeasterly breeze. Just after we had put the nets up and had returned to the cars for that first welcoming morning coffee a pair of Sparrowhawks gave us a fantastic display as they courted each other in superb aerial fashion. The male was doing it's 'stalling' display and then chasing the female with some amazing low level flying. Awesome!

The first 'vis' started in the half-light and we had 69 Meadow Pipits, 15 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Alba Wags, Reed Bunting, 8 Siskins, Linnet, 46 Woodpigeon, Rook, 9 Jackdaws, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Golden Plover.

The only grounded migrants we noted were the three Goldcrests we extracted from the nets. We had no idea they were around as they never called whilst on site. We ringed 22 birds as follows (recaptures in brackets):

Meadow Pipit - 15
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Goldfinch - 1
Goldcrest - 3
Dunnock - (3)

 Goldcrest

Weather permitting we will have another go tomorrow and I must try and remember that the clocks go forward tonight!