Nanjizal October 2021

Early October saw Carlton, George, Jerry and Ron - joined by Jon Avon (Sun - Wed) and Lyndon (Fri) returning for a regular autumn week to Nanjizal. The early part of their stay was a bit wet and windy (for ringing) and it was the quietest trip (with no particular " special" species) since LRGp first visited in 2015.

The 2021 team

They apparently found it to difficult to get them all in one photo....

Although Ron was seemingly in every photo. Including one that is to x-rated for display on the blog!

3rd - a quiet session with inclement weather (and a heavy shower at 9am which prompted net closure) and just 10 + (3) birds caught.

4th - much too windy for any netting so sea watching in the morning, but a few nets opened in the afternoon (hoping for the Rustic Bunting and Red-breasted Flycatcher seen in the valley). Just 1 + (1) caught but included the site's first Skylark.

5th - windy so only a few sheltered nets opened for (2) birds.

6th - a better day with a catch of 92 + (23) incl 40 Blackcap and a late Reed Warbler. A long staying Rose-coloured Starling seen at Sennon on the way back to the cottage.

7th - calm but mist & drizzle first thing, only 22 + (13) caught incl the only Willow Warbler for the trip. A decent number of Jays (20-40+) moving down the valley on each of the last few days, and although they resisted the temptation to try "taping" four were still caught. A large (unusually pattered) Toad found its way into the "Gropper net".

A Jay with a firm grip on Carlton.

8th - mist & drizzle again and 37 + (12) caught incl another late Reed Warbler. A Polecat seen on the lane during the drive to the site. 

9th - a good (ringing) day with 104 + (14) incl 2 Water Rail on the first round, with 2 more Reed Warbler, a Redstart, Stonechat and Whitethroat later. As the weather continued to improve Kester et al had a catch of 150 on Sunday 10th - the morning after we left.

Birds of the week! Water Rail

2021 Totals

Looking for colour-ringed Gulls wasn't very successful either. Despite some 50+ Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls (30% Med) on the rocks daily around high tide tide not a single colour ring was seen.

Carlton took his moth trap for the first time, and his catches were more interesting than the bird ringing, despite the battery sometimes running out before dawn (see list). 

As can be seen from the totals the number and variety were picking up with the weather, with a nice selection of typical autumnal moths, a local coastal species and a few migrants.

a Scarce Bordered Straw, a migrant most commonly recorded in the autumn along the south coast

a Feathered Ranunculus, resident coastal species, foodplants include Sea Plantain, Thrift etc.