Still quiet in mid October, but first Redwing of the autumn, and another Canada Goose recovery

The weather was still unsettled, but a few short sessions were managed. Andy tried an afternoon session on Friday 11th, for a catch of 10 + (6) - mainly Blue Tit. Jerry was there on Saturday, but caught just 7 birds - the best of which were 2 Reed Bunting. Jerry was back on Monday for a slightly better 8 + (5) - which included the season's first Redwing. On Tuesday, it was Peter's turn, and he had the highest total for the period. His 17 + (10) was boosted with a net at the feeders for an hour (only put out a few days earlier). On Wednesday, Jerry tried an afternoon/roost visit, the afternoon was quiet (as usual), but the thrush roost produced 12 birds (unfortunately only 2 Redwing), for a day total of 19 + (2). Jeremy was there on Thursday, and had a long session from mid morning to roost (despite a few showers in the afternoon). He had a catch of 17 + (3), which included 5 Redwing, and also ringed our 2000th bird of the year, late in the afternoon - a Blue Tit.

The species mix was Wren 3 + (2), Dunnock 2, Robin 1 + (7), Blackbird 6 + (1), Song Thrush 10, Redwing 8, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 9 + (1), Blue Tit 18 + (6), Coal Tit (1), Great Tit 3 + (6), Chaffinch 4, Goldfinch 1, Siskin 1, Greenfinch 1, Bullfinch 6 + (2) and Reed Bunting 4.

Sometime during the period, a large twin stemmed crack willow (on the back ditch) split, with one trunk narrowly missing our feeder area. Alan L was soon there to clear up any overhanging branches.

Saturday 19th saw the start of a spell of settled (high pressure) weather, and Rachel/Jerry were first to take advantage. Their afternoon/roost session produced 24 + (1), mainly at the roost. On Monday, Jerry was back for the usual quiet afternoon (the catching only picking up at roost time), to end on 15 + (1). Although there were increased numbers of Redwing in the church/hedgerow, only 2 were caught in the afternoon, with another 6 at the roost. On Tuesday, Andy made an early start, with Peter/Ruth taking over late in the morning, being joined by Andy (again) and Rachel for the roost. They had a decent catch of 33 + (11), which included a new day record catch of 14 Redwing. On Wednesday, Jerry tried a roost, before another spell of rain arrived. His catch was 14 + (3), and although he also caught 14 Redwing, one escaped from the net, while he was taking another out (one more ringed that the old "day maximum").

Redwing by JR

Redwing by PJ

The species mix, for this second run of visits, was Wren 1 + (2), Robin 2 + (2), Dunnock 1 + (1), Blackbird 4, Song Thrush 7 + (1), Redwing 45, Goldcrest 4 + (1), Blue Tit 9 + (5), Coal Tit (1), Great Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 2 + (2), Treecreeper 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Siskin 4, Goldfinch 1, Bullfinch 1 + (1) and Reed Bunting 2.

Canada Goose 5287802 was ringed on 30 June 2019, and was shot at Worsley, Greater Manchester on 12 October - 103 days, 184 km, 19 degrees.



This Canada Goose was shot in the same general area that a lot of our other recoveries. It is close to where other birds have been recovered to the west of the Peak District NP/Yorkshire Dales NP (but at the eastern edge of that grouping). We also have a number of birds to the East of the two parks. However, the Parks have no recoveries, and its easy to speculate that their higher ground acts as a barrier to the birds, particularly as our other recoveries seem to indicate that birds follow river valleys. However it could also be that the Parks are less well populated, have less suitable water bodies/feeding areas, or that less shooting takes place there. Please note that the recoveries to the West of the National Parks continue right down into Herefordshire