Late November - scrub taping continues and 2nd "winter CES" visit.

The wet/windy weather for the 2nd half of the month gave only limited opportunities for netting, but Saturday 19th was good for a full day session - started by Jeremy at 07.30 (cold, with guys frozen), before Andy took over, and Jerry finished the session. It was a promising start, with c60 Redpoll flying over as Jeremy was putting the nets up, and the day ended with a respectable 32 + (4) including single Redwing, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest plus 2 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin and 22 + (control) Redpoll. Unlike our 2 recent Redpoll catches, small groups continued to be caught throughout the day. The next suitable day was Tuesday 22nd when Jerry was back for a mid am-mid pm (quiet) catch of just 5 + (2), which included another late/wintering Chiffchaff, a Siskin and 2 Redpoll. On Friday 25th, Jeremy and Jerry were back for another prolonged session, but just 7 + (7) in 8 hrs - sunny for much of the time, with a sharp shower early afternoon. Best of the session were 2 Lesser Redpoll (JR) and 1 + (1) Goldcrest (JL).

The species details for the 3 sessions were Wren 3 + (2), Robin (2), Redwing 1, Blackbird (1), Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 2 + (1), Blue Tit 2 + (2), Long-tailed Tit (3), Bullfinch (1), Goldfinch 2, Siskin 5, and Lesser Redpoll 26 + (1).

On Sunday 27th, Andy, Peter and Ted were doing the 2nd winter CES (at the Pennorth feeders), and for the 3 hour session had another successful catch of 42 + (10). The mix was Great-spotted Woodpecker 1, Wren 1, Robin 2, Dunnock 3, Blue Tit 16 + (5), Great Tit 2 + (3), Nuthatch (1), House Sparrow 5, Goldfinch 1, Chaffinch 1, and Greenfinch 10 + (1). On Monday 28th, George & Ron visited, but despite putting up a couple of additional nets, they had an extremely poor catch of just 2 retraps (Wren & Bullfinch).

During the month, 185 birds were ringed (about average for recent November totals), making our YTD 2491 (already in our top ten of our all time year totals).