Back in the saddle

After a gap of nearly 2 years I finally managed to get back to the ringing site on Billinge Hill in late October. Covid restrictions were the initial reason for the lack of visits but work and other commitments also played their part and got in the way too. I didn't stop ringing altogether and simply focussed on my garden based Starling project which wasn't affected by the Covid restrictions and was easier to fit in around everything else. 

Anyway I got back up to the Billinge site and spent an afternoon opening up a couple of 18m net rides prior to the first ringing visit on 23rd October, which went reasonably well. Work and wet weather prevented me from getting out again until 3rd November but then I managed to get out four mornings in a row. Only two 18m nets were used on each visit and the results of these sessions can be seen in the table below. 

 

	23/10/21	03/11/21	04/11/21	05/11/21	06/11/21	Total
Jay	1	-	-	-	-	1
Blue Tit	4	1	(1)	1		6 (1)
Great Tit	2	3	-	-	-	5
L-t Tit	-	3	3	2 (2)	-	8 (2)
Goldcrest	4	1	3	2	-	10
Treecreeper	1	-	-	-	-	1
Blackbird	4	1	1	-	-	6
Fieldfare	-	-	-	2	3	5
Redwing	13	25	41	52	34	165
Song Thrush	1	-	-	-	-	1
Robin	2	-	-	(1)	-	2 (1)
Chaffinch	2	-	-	-	1	3
Bullfinch	-	-	-	1	-	1
Lesser Redpoll	-	8	6	-	4 (1)	18 (1)
Goldfinch	-	-	1	-	-	1
Siskin	-	-	-	2	-	2
Yellowhammer	-	-	-	-	3	3
Reed Bunting	-	1	-	-	-	1
Total	34	43	55 (1)	62 (3)	45 (1)	239 (5)
Retraps or controls in brackets

Redwing

Adult female Fieldfare

Control adult male Lesser Redpoll (ring number AAN****)

Male Yellowhammer 06/11/2021

The sessions were quite busy so I didn't have time to make detailed observations of movements overhead but one consistent feature, apart from the movements of Redwings and Fieldfares, was a significant movement of Siskins heading north. Singles, numerous small groups and flocks of up to 70 strong punctuated each of the visits.