Wagtail roost & Garden taping continues.

The weather for the first half of October was not conducive for netting, but on the evening of Sunday 2nd Jerry, Peter and Andy had an attempt to ring some Pied Wagtails. Their roost is not generally accessible, but as the Lake level is still low, and 150/200 gather (pre-roost) along the shoreline, they tried taping them into the nearby reed bed. Unfortunately is was a bit too breezy (4mph from the west), and with no cloud to hide the setting sun, the birds were obviously evading the net. Five were finally caught as it calmed and the sun dipped below the horizon. Pied Wagtails haven't featured regularly in our recent annual totals, and the last time we ringed 5 was back in 2007.

On Monday 3rd, Jerry had a late start in the garden, but still managed a reasonable total of 18 + (4), including our first Redpoll of the year (a bit later than in recent years). A long session on Thursday 6th was started by Andy, then continued by Carlton (mid am) and Jerry (mid pm) for a decent catch of 34 + (13) - incl our first Siskin of the autumn. Jerry and Madeleine were there on Saturday 8th for a cold, wet (from overnight rain & dew) start and few birds moving. Catching picked up after the sun came out and it warmed, with the session ending on a reasonable 14 + (1), the best of which were a few Chiffchaff, Siskin and a late Blackcap - providing Madeleine with her first extraction experience. On Tuesday 11th, Jerry took the opportunity for a final visit before some unsettled weather arrived. It was a cold start (just 5C at 10.00), with a ground frost, so he had a delayed start, and caught just 7 + (3).

The mix for the four sessions was Wren 5, Dunnock 2, Robin (4), Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 5 + (1), Chiffchaff 9, Goldcrest 11 + (7), Meadow Pipit 8, Blue Tit 6 + (8), Coal Tit 2, Great Tit 4 + (1), Long-tailed Tit 1, Treecreeper 2, Goldfinch 3, Siskin 8, Lesser Redpoll 1, Chaffinch 1, and Bullfinch 2, .

The main species in most of our recent catches (since mid September) have been Chiffchaff & Goldcrest, and our YTD's are now 264 and 63 respectively (already our 4th and 3rd highest year totals for these species).