Making the most of the weather

A forecast for calm conditions tempted me to take the morning off work and fit in a ringing session at Haigh. The first few rounds of the nets were much less productive than expected given the near perfect conditions. A flock of about 25 Bramblings flew around shortly after sunrise but none dropped in. The finches didn’t start coming in to feed in any number until after 9:00am. Up to 50 Greenfinches eventually gathered along with a dozen or so Chaffinches and Bramblings.



one of my drain pipe feeders

The majority of the tits caught were adults including 9 of the 10 new Blue Tits or 12 out of 14 if retraps are included. The 2 new Goldcrests caught brought the total ringed at Haigh this autumn to 82. Given that most of the birds didn't come in until later in the morning I may try an afternoon ringing session on my next visit.

adult Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Ringing Totals

Greenfinch 28 (+3)
Brambling 5
Goldfinch 4 (+1)
Chaffinch 2 (+2)
Great Tit 1 (+2)
Blue Tit 10 (+4)
Coal Tit 1 (+1)
Goldcrest 2
Wren 1
Blackbird 1
Robin 0 (+1)
Total 55 (+14 retraps)