February ends with a good catch, following a "non catch" at the cover crops.

Although it was a bit breezy on 16th (Tues), there was some shelter at the sunflower feeders, so Jeremy and Jerry put up a net for a couple of hours. As expected, the recaptures outnumbered new birds, and the catch of 10 + (21) was made up of (2) Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Dunnock, (1) Robin, 2 + (7) Blue Tit, 2 + (7) Great Tit, (2) Coal Tit, (1) Nuthatch, (1) Siskin and 5 Greenfinch.

On 18th (Thurs), the wind had dropped completely, so it was time for Andy and Jerry to try the Pennorth bird crop again. Bird numbers had drastically reduced however, with just c20 Chaffinch, c5 Reed Bunting, 5 Linnet and 3 Brambling present, plus 2 Skylark on the adjacent stubble. The birds were retreating to the tall trees, and after two hours, the catch was just (1) Wren, so they decided to call it a day !!

Some calmer, more settled weather was forecast for the end of the month, so on 25th (Thurs) Andy, Phoebe (new recruit) and Jerry tried the Llangorse bird crop. Conditions were excellent (though cold) and good numbers of birds seem to be hanging on, in contrast to the Pennorth crop (which seems to have been all but abandoned). The catch of 50 + (2) was made up of 7 + (1) Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 4 House Sparrow, 6 Chaffinch, 7 Reed Bunting and 23 + (1) Yellowhammer. Both retraps from earlier in the winter.

The January total of 121, and the February total of 178, were both our highest (for these months), by a long way, a result of successful catches at the two bird cover crops.