On Saturday 23rd December, it was reasonably calm, so Andy had a last session (for the year) at the Pennorth feeders. In just two, one hour, stints (furling between to deal with the catch) he ended on 35 + (5). Although the majority were still Blue Tits, there had obviously been a large turn over of birds during/following the snowy spell. The species mix was made up of - Robin 1, Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 17 + (5), Great Tit 6, Coal Tit 1, Nuthatch 1, House Sparrow 3 and Chaffinch 5.
On Boxing Day, it was calm again, so while Jerry was doing some cutting, he put a net at the nyger feeders, but it was still very quiet there, with just Marti (1) and Goldf 2 + (1).
The last calm day of the year, was forecast to be Thursday 28th, ideal to try the Pennorth bird crop. There was a light snow dusting, and it was cold - zero at the start, and only about +3C by mid afternoon. A "good turnout" joined Jerry - George, Jeremy, Gareth, Peter (and Ted), with Andy for part of the session. More nets than usual were put up - six at three different locations (around the crop boundary), though three of them caught very little. The flock of about 200/250, comprised mainly Chaffinch, but with maybe 30-40 of both Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. The number of ringers made it easier to move the birds into position for capture, and ensured rapid extraction and processing. The session ended on 73 + (6), made up of Wren 1 + (1), Robin 2, Dunnock 7 + (1), Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 2 + (2), House Sparrow 2, Chaffinch 31 (a new day record), Brambling 4, Reed Bunting 11 + (2) and Yellowhammer 12.
The month ended on 255 (our highest ever for December) and the year total was 3003 (only the 4th time we have ringed more than 3000).
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