October to mid month, and a Chiffchaff control

After about a week of wet and windy weather, Wednesday 7 October was a brief respite. So Andy did a morning session in the garden, and Jerry took over for the afternoon. The catch was a very respectable 42 + (8), mainly caught by Andy, and included 17 Siskin in the same net adjacent to the playback. Jerry didn't stay for a roost, as rain was forecast for 18.00 (it started just after he had packed up at 17.00). No Redwing had been seen/heard, and no reports of any in Brecs so far.

A couple of days with unsettled weather followed, but Sunday 11th looked suitable, so Carlton did the morning, and Jerry took over for the afternoon. It was VERY quiet, with only 5 birds during the morning, but picked up a bit from 16.00, to end the session with a disappointing 11 + (8), the best of which were an adult Goldcrest (ringed autumn 2019), and a Reed Bunting.

On Tuesday 13th, Andy was back for a morning session, with Jerry doing the afternoon again. It was still quiet, but with captures spread throughout the day. Some rain arrived at 15.30, and as it didn't look to be blowing through anytime soon, Jerry packed up soon after (so missing the late afternoon "rush"). The total was 15 + (5), with the best 2 late Chiffchaff, a Lesser Redpoll and a Reed Bunting, most caught by Andy.

On Thursday 15th, Jerry was back for a late afternoon session. Because the previous visits had been quiet, he also put a net at the feeders for a couple of hours (despite only a small nyger feeder having been filled on 11th). This net produced approx 15 birds, and accounted for most of the retrap "tits" in the following summary. He stayed on for a first roost attempt (joined by Andy), which resulted in 6 birds, including the first Redwing of the autumn. The best bird for the afternoon ringing was a late Blackcap, and the day ended with a respectable 19 + (16). There were a few bats still active at dusk, and a "Pip sps" found its way into gn5, but soon released ok.

The variety for the four sessions was - Wren 1 + (2), Robin 3 + (7), Song Thrush 3, Redwing 3, Blackbird 3, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 1, Goldcrest 9 + (3), Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 16 + (8), Great Tit 7 + (6), Long-tailed Tit 5 + (3), Treecreeper (2), Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 2 + (1), Chaffinch 1, Bullfinch 5 + (5), Siskin 17, Lesser Redpoll 4 and Reed Bunting 2.

Chiffchaff LAL691 was ringed by Peter and Alan, early in the evening (of a roost session at the jetty) on 24 August, and was caught at Lancing, West Sussex on 5 October - 42 days, 238 km, 120 degrees.