December Weeks 3 & 4

The windy weather returned mid month, so most of Jerry's visits were spent on habitat management, working on coppicing/pollarding the alders adjacent to gn4. This net used to be one of our best catchers, but this year, seems to have been less productive. The most likely cause is the height of the adjacent alders (now well above the net, and having last had a "proper" cut about 20/25 years ago), and although they attract Siskin and Redpoll to the general catching area, they have now got so high that lots of other birds must be overflying the net.

Whenever conditions were ok, nets were put up, but catches were generally in single figures. The wind eased on Mon 15th, and Jerry had a net at the nyger feeder, but caught just 3 Goldfinch. On Sat 20th, he put up 4-7, and caught 1 Bullfinch !! - there was likely some disturbance from the cutting. On 21st, Gareth (and Andy) tried at the nyger feeder again, but it was a bit breezy and they caught 6 + (1) - incl another 3 Goldfinch. On 22nd, although a bit breezy, Alan L put up gn4-7 (for a couple of hours while he was working), and caught a Blackbird and a Bullfinch. Previous posts have indicated that Bullfinch have had a good year, our previous year maxima have been 56 (2004) and 57 (2011), and this bird has taken our 2014 total to 70. Ron was also present, but seemed to have spent most of his time arranging a seasonal display to brighten up the hut (photo). On 24th, Jerry tried the playback system, and the first net round was promising, with 4 birds (incl 3 Redpoll), but only one more bird was added during the session.

Merry Christmas to you to Ron!

After Christmas, some final feeder sessions were attempted; on 26th, George and Jerry tried the nyger feeder - just before xmas, there seemed to be increased numbers of Goldfinch visiting, and 5 + (6) were caught (before rain curtailed the session). Overnight frosts and colder weather brought an increase in numbers visiting Andy's feeders at Pennorth, and on 29th, Jerry, Andy and Carola had a busy three hours with 43 + (23). Most of the catch comprised Blue Tit and Great Tit, though amongst the variety was 1 + (1) Coati, 3 Housp and 1 Grefi, plus (1) Grswo - a female ringed way back in Apr 2006, and re-caught 5 times since - (Feb 07, Sept 07, Dec 08, Nov 11 and Jan 14). She was mostly caught at our CES and feeder sites, but sometime after 2011, seems to have settled near Pennorth. On 30th, a good turn out (Jerry, Tony, Peter, Alan J and Cheryl) netted the feeders, for a catch of 4 + (35), and on 31st, Jeremy had a final tape session of 2 + (4). He stayed until dusk and was finally rewarded with 2 Redwing. The year ended with 2436 birds ringed, our 5th highest total.

Our Grswo is 2 years 6 months off the BTO Longevity Record (which was re-broken to 11 years 1 month in 2013)!

Table below shows the total catch for the two week period plus the day totals for the two busiest days.

	Total 15-31 Dec	12/29	12/30
Robin	1 (4)	1 (1)	(1)
Coati	1 (1)	1 (1)
Bluti	24 (39)	22 (15)	2 (22)
Greti	12 (11)	11 (5)	(6)
Goldf	11 (8)		(2)
Chaff	4	3	1
Bullf	2
Lesre	3 (1)
Goldc	2
Dunno	1 (3)	1	(2)
Housp	3	3
Grefi	2	1	1
Nutha	(1)		(1)
Grswo	(2)	(1)	(1)
Blabi	2 (1)
Redwi	2
Total	70 (71)	43 (23)	4 (35)