Fog Bound Fatties

As I write this blog post I have mist nets draped in various locations around the house drying, testament to the foggy conditions this morning. As I unlocked the gate and drove down the track at the Obs I was in the midst of a 'pea-souper'! In fact I didn't put any nets up at first, instead I planted about 15 Willows that I had brought with me. In the half-light I could hear Goldcrests calling so I decided to put a couple nets up in the knowledge that they wouldn't be up long before they were wet through with the fog and would need to come down.

I ringed just five birds as follows:

Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 2
Robin - 1


The Goldcrests and Chiffs were laden with fat and I wondered where they might have been heading before being grounded by the murk. In total I thought there were seven Goldcrests and three Chiffchaffs around. In addition to these to species other grounded birds included a Fieldfare and 55 Meadow Pipits.

 One of the 'fog bound fatties', a Goldcrest

Even though it was foggy there was still some vis and birds were moving above and on the upper limits of the fog. In total I had 60 Meadow Pipits, a Collared Dove and a Linnet.

Back home in the moth trap were three Common Quakers, a Light Brown Apple Moth, three Hebrew Characters and an Early Grey.

 Hebrew Character

I will try again in the morning but at 1935 as I type the fog has yet to clear!