October Week 4, 1st Redwing of the year, and visit to Bird Crop

After almost a week away from the Lake (due to breezy conditions and occasional rain), Jerry was back on Wednesday 25th, and was joined by Andy for the middle part of the session.  They had a decent catch of 24 + (10), which included 4 + (4) Goldcrest, and a new  "family group" of 6 Long-tailed Tit.  On the last visit (20th), a large female Sparrowhawk flew into GN4 (close to where Jerry was standing), but it was right at the end of the net and didn't even pocket.  She is obviously still hunting the feeding station, with Goldfinch feathers on the path today, and the first of three Redwing was caught by her, and carried into GN4a.  The hawk flew off, but the Redwing seemed to be unhurt, so after a quiet 20 mins rest in a bird bag, it was ringed and also flew off well.

On Friday afternoon, Andy had his first solo ringing session (following receipt of his C Licence last week), but catching was a bit quiet, without any tapes playing.  Jerry took over late in the afternoon, and catching picked up (a bit), to end the day on 11 + (9), which included our 100th Goldcrest of the year.  The roost produced just 1 Redwing, 1 Reed Bunting and a small grey-brown bat (bottom panel of GN6).

Although Sunday was forecast to be a bit breezy (and it was), Ruth, George and Jerry did a mid morning to mid afternoon session.  The bulk of the catch comprised "tits" moving to and from the sunflower feeder, but a first try with GN3a at the nyger feeder added a few Goldfinch and Chaffinch (the low number caught, confirm that few birds are visiting the nyger feeders).  The best bird of the 27 + (10) caught, was a late Blackcap (fat 40, 24.1 gms).  The session ended with George putting a foot in the pond, on his way to the nyger net.

Species totals for the garden visits - Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Wren 1 + (1), Robin (3), Dunnock 1 + (1), Song Thrush 3, Redwing 5, Blackbird (3), Blackcap 1, Goldcrest 8 + (4), Coal Tit 1 + (1), Blue Tit 13 + (8), Great Tit 3 + (3), Long-tailed Tit 6, Treecreeper (1), Nuthatch (1), Chaffinch 4, Goldfinch 7, Lesser Redpoll 2, Bullinch 5 + (3) and Reed Bunting 1.

The forecast for Monday 30th was calm (though sunny), so Andy and Jerry thought they'd try the Pennorth bird crop.  The site wasn't visited last winter (as its food value had declined), but it had been reseeded this year.  Bird numbers hadn't yet built up, but 20 were caught, comprising Dunnock 1, Blue Tit 9, Chaffinch 3, Reed Bunting 5 and Yellowhammer 2. Our October total was 350 birds ringed - the highest we have had (previous max was 303 ringed October 2016), making our the YTD 2517.  This high October catch is a bit surprising, given the low numbers of Redpoll, a species that has featured prominently in recent Octobers.