Bird Crop and feeder visits

Tuesday 4th December was the first suitable "netting" day for over a week, so Andy and Jerry tried the Llangorse bird crop (joined briefly mid session by Carlton). This field was last used in the 2015/16 winter, and three nets were set, along the lane-side hedge (the most productive location previously). Unfortunately the trees/high hedge (on the neighbour's side of the lane), were in the process of being completely trashed, thus removing most background cover for the nets. In four hours 31 birds were ringed, most in a single (mid session) catch.

Another week of wet/windy weather followed, with Monday 10th the next suitable ringing day. Andy, Jeremy, Carlton and Jerry tried the Pennorth bird crop. With no "big" catch, small numbers were spread throughout the session, which ended on 44 + (2). They finished when a cat was discovered loitering in the hedge near two of the nets - which explained why the birds were venturing further into the crop, away from the hedge.

On Tuesday 11th, Andy, Peter and Jerry tried the Llangorse crop again, with a different net configuration. It was breezy with light drizzle (not forecast), but they managed several catches of 8/10 birds, to finish on 37 + (5). There was an interesting variation of "target species" at the different sites Llangorse/Pennorth/Llangorse), despite the crops being very similar - Chaffinch 4/12/2, Reed Bunting 0/6/1 and Yellowhammer 24/7/33. It's likely to be related to the Llangorse crop being closer to the ffrith (Yellowhammer breeding habitat), and the Pennorth crop being closer to the Lake (breeding habitat for Reed Bunting).

Species totals - Wren 3, Dunnock 4 + (1), Blue Tit 6 + (1), House Sparrow 13 + (1), Chaffinch 18, Greenfinch 1, Reed Bunting 6 + (1) and Yellowhammer 61 + (3).

On Wednesday 12th, Andy tried his garden feeders for a couple of hours in the afternoon. The feeders had been emptied by the time he started (so birds likely feeding elsewhere in the village), and his catch of 8 + (2) was a bit disappointing. The weather on Sunday 16th was better than forecast, but as he was on his own, Jerry opted to only put up the hut nyger feeder net (so he could also work on doing fence repairs, between catches). By the time rain returned at 2pm, Jerry had caught 18 + (7).

Details for both feeder catches - Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Blue Tit 4 + (2), Coal Tit 1, Great Tit 4 + (2), Nuthatch 1, Siskin 2 + (1) and Goldfinch
12 + (4).