September Ringing Totals

I have been quite active over the last couple of weeks but not had time to blog about any of the ringing sessions for one reason or another. There were no major surprises and Goldcrests dominated most of the Billinge catches as usual, although a Spotted Flycatcher caught on the 23rd was both unexpected and a late(ish) record.

Looking at the month as a whole the total of 777 new birds ringed at Billinge is only 1 short of the total achieved last year and was much better than expected given the weather. Goldcrest took top slot with 269 being 32 up on last September's total while 2nd placed Chiffchaff was 32 down with a total of 143. Blackcap numbers were well down with 40 ringed compared to 88 last year but on the other hand 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 4 Redstarts continued the autumns's exceptional run of records for those species. It was a disappointing month for controls with a single Goldcrest being the only bird caught that had been ringed elsewhere (ringing details have yet to be received).

BILLINGE RINGING TOTALS SEPTEMBER 2017
Species	New	Retraps/controls
Sparrowhawk	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Jay	1
Goldcrest	269	12
Blue Tit	44	6
Great Tit	39	11
Coal Tit	12
Willow Tit	1
Long-tailed Tit	18	1
Chiffchaff	143	10
Willow Warbler	16
Blackcap	40
Whitethroat	2
Wren	3
Blackbird	7	1
Song Thrush	10	1
Spotted Flycatcher	2
Robin	22	2
Redstart	4
Dunnock	4
Grey Wagtail	5
Tree Pipit	2
Meadow Pipit	11
Chaffinch	42	1
Bullfinch	6	1
Greenfinch	6
Linnet	2
Lesser Redpoll	7
Goldfinch	23
Yellowhammer	25
Reed Bunting	28
Total	777	39

I also ringed 138 birds in my garden during the month with 91 Goldfinches claiming top slot there.