Early November

Week 1 was forecast for settled weather, and we had some reasonable coverage - on Monday 1st Jerry tried a roost for 6 + (3) - the best of which was 6 Redwing. On Tuesday he tried two hours at the hut sunflower feeder (first visit for this winter) and caught 11 + (17), made up mainly of (approx) equal numbers of Blue & Great Tit but also 1 + (1) Great-spotted Woodpecker. On Thursday Jeremy did the afternoon/roost, and his first round produced a Brambling - a species that we don't catch annually. His session ended on a very respectable 17 + (6), which included 4 Redwing and a Siskin. On Friday Jerry was back for the roost, and though he only caught 4 + (3), the new birds were 3 Redwing and a Sparrowhawk (our first of the year). Unfortunately a Fieldfare escaped from the net before Jerry could reach it. Peter tried an afternoon/roost on Sunday 7th and managed to catch a few Siskin/Lesser Redpoll/Goldfinch from part of a larger mixed flock that was feeding near our netting area, but had a unsuccessful roost. Also in his catch of 13 + (3) was a late (or more likely wintering?) Blackcap.

The summary for the week was Sparrowhawk 1, Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 + (1), Wren (1), Robin 1 + (5), Dunnock (3), Blackbird 2 + (2), Song Thrush 3, Redwing 13, Blackcap 1, Goldcrest 2, Blue Tit 4 + (12), Great Tit 4 + (5), Long-tailed Tit 4, Treecreeper 1, Nuthatch (1), Chaffinch 2, Brambling 1, Goldfinch 3, Lesser Redpoll 3, Siskin 2, and Bullfinch 3 + (2).

Week 2 stated on Monday 8th with a session for the "Winter Ringing Project" (first of eight) at Andy's,  with help from Jerry. In three hours they had a decent catch of 36 + (1) - made up of Blackbird 1, Dunnock 1, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 18, Great Tit 5 + (1), Nuthatch 1, House Sparrow 2, Goldfinch 4, and Greenfinch 3. There were no recaptures from last winter's trial - the Great Tit was ringed at our hut feeder (2km away) as recently as 2nd November.

Recent catches in the scrub area had been "modest" but Jerry went straight into an afternoon/roost there for just 4 + (3). On Thursday he opted for a mid morning to mid afternoon session, and a slightly better 
catch of 12 + (0) - mainly "quality" finch. On Friday Jeremy did another afternoon/roost but it was still quiet with a limited catch of 6 + (4) - including 2 Redwing. On Saturday Andy opted for a morning's ringing and caught 9 + (2) - including 2 Siskin.

The summary for week 2 (excluding the "Winter Ringing Project" birds) was Wren 1 + (1), Robin 1 + (3), Song Thrush 2, Redwing 4, Goldcrest 6, Blue Tit 1 + (2), Great Tit 1, Nuthatch 1, Chaffinch 4, Goldfinch 1, Lesser Redpoll 5, Siskin 4, and Bullfinch (3). 

Brambling

The leucistic Female Bullfinch

Nuthatch