November week 2, and another Canada Goose recovery

After a few days break (cold winds blowing), Jerry was back in the scrub area on the afternoon of Monday 13th.  Catching was slow - just 9 + (6), though the total included two each of Redwing and Reed Bunting.

On Tuesday, Tony, Carlton and Jerry had a first session with a 40' net at the sunflower feeder, and in just three visits caught approx 45 birds (only a third of which were new), the rest had mainly been caught in the nearby scrub nets )over the last month or so).  After lunch, the net was moved to the nyger feeder, and nets 4-7 were also put up, but the next two hours were quiet. When Jerry was packing up at 1500, he had the only decent catch of the afternoon (14 birds), including 6 Reed Bunting coming to the tape.  The day ended on a respectable 26 + (38).

On Wednesday, Jerry tried an afternoon/roost session, and it was very quiet, with just 8 + (4).  The roost comprised a single Redwing and 4 Reed Bunting, and with luck, some of these roosting Buntings will turn up at the bird crops, as there has been little evidence (so far), that the Lake's breeding birds are using the crops.

Summary details -
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1),
Wren (2),
Robin 2,
Dunnock (3),
Blackbird 4 + (3),
Redwing 3,
Goldcrest 1,
Coal Tit 4 +(5),
Marsh Tit (1),
Blue Tit 8 + (19),
Great Tit 2 + (5),
Long-tailed Tit (4),
Nuthatch (2),
Treecreeper (2),
Lesser Redpoll 2,
Goldfinch (1),
Chaffinch 2,
Greenfinch 2,
Bullfinch 1 and
Reed Bunting 12.

On Friday, clear skies overnight, resulted into a frosty (calm and
sunny) morning, so Andy, Carlton & Jerry tried a second session at the Pennorth bird crop.  The c500 strong flock, comprised mainly Chaffinch, with a "decent number" of Reed Bunting, but there were only about 10 Yellowhammer present (none caught), and maybe a similar number of Brambling. 
The session ended on 53 + (1), comprising:
Wren 4 + (1),
Robin 2,
Dunnock 1,
Song Thrush 1,
Blackbird 1,
Blue Tit 4,
Chaffinch 23,
Brambling 6 and
Reed Bunting 11. 

Both the Chaffinch and Brambling are new day maxima for the Group - the previously max for Chaffinch was 18 (way back in August 1986), and we have only ringed 11 Brambling (year max of three in 2007 & 2016).

Male and female brambling

Canada Goose 5266207 was ringed on 30 June 2013, and found dead "within about a week shot" at Frodsham, Cheshire on 12 November 2017 - 1596 days, 158 km, 13 degrees.