Quiet Start to October

Early October catches are usually a bit quiet at the Lake (last of the Blackcap have left, and winter thrushes/finches have not really arrived in any numbers), and we tend to play a variety of calls in the hope that something "needing a description" might end up in the net. In the end, persistence paid off.
On 4th, Jeremy had a reasonable afternoon catch (while Andy and Jerry had a final session of willow cutting in rb2) of 14 + (7). On 5th, Jerry and Josef (new recruit) started a run of very poor catches with just 5 + (5). A few days of heavy rain then curtailed visits, but on 11th, Jerry was back for a slightly better 5 + (6) - which included a Mistle Thrush (originally ringed in 2010), and 2 Lesre (when the tape was changed). On 12th, Carola and Jerry packed up after about three hours, with only 1 + (1) Blabi. Jerry then took a net to Andy's garden, but numbers were low at the feeders, and just 5 birds were caught in a couple of hours. On 14th, Jeremy and Jerry tried an afternoon/roost session, and things seemed to be picking up with two groups of Lesre (total of 9 ringed), and a handful of Blabi/Sonth caught. About 30 Redwing were seen but none ended up in the nets. The star bird (of the year) appeared at 16.20, when a new, and long awaited, species (for the Group) was sitting in GN5a, right next to the tape. See pictures below.

A first for the group, the 103rd species ringed by the group.

The BTO online ringing report shows this it the first Firecrest caught in Powys since at least 2005.
EDIT: It is the second in a few days as the below comment confirms.

On 15th, Jerry was back for a couple of hours before the rain returned, but it was a bit breezy (with leaves in the nets) and only one Song Thrush was caught.

In total, the catch was - 1 Grswo, 1 Blaca, 2 + (1) Chiff, 5 Goldc, 1 Firec, 2 Wren, (3) Dunno, 1 + (8) Robin, 9 + (1) Sonth, 5 + (5) Blabi, (1) Misth, 3 + (3) Bluti, 1 Greti, 4 Lotti, 1 + (3) Treec, 1 Nutha, 2 Housp, 11 Lesre, 2 Chaff, and 1 + (1) Bullf.