January 2023 - Recent recoveries, Winter CES visits 5 & 6

Sedge Warbler Y517959 was caught in rb2 on 9 August 2022, having been ringed on 13 May 2022 at Copeland Bird Observatory, Co Down. 88 days, 343 km, 154 degrees. This is our first recovery from N Ireland, and this bird was probably breeding there in mid May.

Lesser Redpoll AJP1643 was caught in the scrub area on 19 November 2022, having been ringed on 4 November 2020 at Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire. 245 days, 179 km, 319 degrees.

With a mainly wet/windy forecast to the start of new year, Andy took the first opportunity of a decent day (Monday 2nd) to do the 5th Winter CES visit. He had a decent catch of 18 + (14), made up of Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren 1, Robin (1), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit 10 + (8), Great Tit (2), House Sparrow 3, Goldfinch (1), and Greenfinch 4. There was then a further spell of wet/windy weather resulting in flooding around our hut feeders (preventing access), and when it calmed a cold spell (only a few degrees above zero) limited netting. With a slightly warmer spell, Andy managed to complete the 6th Winter CES visit on 22nd. There was only a light breeze and the catch of 18 + (15) might suggest that numbers visiting the feeders had fallen a bit during the cold spell - none of a recent Group of 10 Goldfinch turning up during the ringing session. The species mix was Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Robin 1 + (1), Dunnock 2, Blue Tit 8 + (10), Great Tit 1 + (1), Treecreeper 1, House Sparrow 2, and Greenfinch 3 + (1).

Unfortunately, by the time the better weather arrived, there were few birds remaining on the Pennorth bird crop. With just spring oats on offer, and the wet couple of months pre-Xmas, all the seed had either been consumed or had rotted. In recent years, the best bird counts have been in November, with numbers declining beyond mid December. The site has little shelter, and during November when good numbers of birds were present, if it wasn't raining, it was just a bit too breezy. On Saturday 28th, after a busy afternoon cutting/dead hedging in the CES scrub, Peter and Alan J were trying out a newly acquired thermal image kit. With the flood now receded, the point field was very attractive again and some 70 Snipe were picked up. Just before dusk a couple of nets were put up and although only one bird was caught, it was our first Snipe since 2018, and hopefully a return to more regular Snipe ringing.

The total number of birds ringed during January was just 37 - one of our lowest.