Last Day of Autumn?

I thought that this morning might be the last chance to do some ringing for a few days, or even the last chance to catch some autumn migrants. With the clocks now gone back it meant an earlier start of 6.15 a.m. for Ian and I at Rossall. As it was calm and overcast at first light we could put the full complement of nets up.

In the half light Thrushes were moving and this included 15 Fieldfares and 14 Redwings. There were a few grounded Song Thrushes and fewer Blackbirds. Bramblings were thin on the ground, or should I say 'in the sky', and all we had were 2 at first light. In fact the vis was fairly thin full stop and other counts were 4 Alba Wags, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 4 Grey Wagtails, 6 Meadow Pipits, 3 Reed Buntings, 22 Skylarks, 2 Tree Sparrows and 13 Lapwings.

Pink-footed Geese were arriving through the morning and dropping on to Fleetwood Farm across the road; we had 330 in total.

We processed 30 new birds (recaptures in brackets) as follows:

Wren - 3 (1)
Blackbird - 3
Redwing - 1
Song Thrush - 3
Blue Tit - 1
Stonechat - 1 female
Greenfinch - 18

 Redwing

Song Thrush 

Wing of calendar year Song Thrush showing pale tips of greater and 

median coverts turning up towards the shaft

Stonechat

If you read this in time don't forget to tune into BBC4 at 9.00 p.m. tonight to see the worst side of birding in Britain. I'll say no more!