December 2023

More cold and unsettled weather at the start of the month, with Tuesday 5th the first suitable "ringing" weather. Andy opted to do the 3rd Winter Ringing Project session at this first opportunity, with Jerry along to scribe. In a three hour morning session, the catch was 34 + (19), with the usual "tits" dominating, but they also caught 1 + (1) Great-spotted Woodpecker, (2) Coal Tits, (1) Marsh Tit, 1 Starling. 4 House Sparrow, and 3 Greenfinch. A male chaffinch with very extensive growths on its feet was released un-ringed. As soon as they had packed up, Jerry went to the hut to try the hut feeders. He was joined by Jake where they caught 17 + (17) in two hours. "Tits" again dominating but also (1) Coal Tit, 6 + (1) Greenfinch, 3 Siskin, and 1 Goldfinch.

The day's catch of 51 + (36) was made up of Great-spotted Woodpecker 1 + (1), Robin 1 + (1), Dunnock 1 + (1), Coal Tit (3), Marsh Tit (1), Blue Tit 22 + (18), Great Tit 6 + (9), Nuthatch (1), Starling 1, House Sparrow 4, Chaffinch 2 , Siskin 3, Goldfinch 1, Greenfinch 9 + (1).

There was then another 10 days of poor weather, and the next ringing session was not until Friday 15th when Peter and Alan J checked the fields for Snipe. They put three short nets along the edge of the point flood, and the thermal revealed some 300 Snipe in the water. One net caught a small group of Starling (crossing the field on their way to roost), but most of them escaped and only five were ringed. After dark, the Snipe began moving into the rb2 fields, where there were also decent numbers of duck. When flushed they headed back towards the point field, but only one Teal was caught. Those Snipe seen in the area of the nets seemingly avoided them (likely could see them/were avoiding them, particularly as it was a clear night). Despite the low catch, It turned out be be very useful in helping (for future visits), to understand how the birds are using the fields, and it was only our 12th Teal, previous birds ringed in 1985, 1989, 1992 (2), 2000 (2), 2004 (4), and 2008. 

Teal

On Saturday 16th Rachel and Jerry tried the hut feeders, but the sun made the net visible. The total of 4 + (21) comprised mainly Blue Tit recaptures, with just 1 Siskin and 3 Greenfinch ringed. A male Great Tit (ringed Sept 2021, and re-caught Nov 2021) had an accumulation of dirt/debris beneath its A ring, making it so tight that it couldn't be rotated. There was no evidence of any damage to the leg (that could have caused this), but it would have constricted blood supply so the ring was removed and a larger B ring fitted to the other leg (to assist in monitoring its future well-being/survival). As both A and B rings can be fitted to fully grown Great Tits, this would be something to look out for with any carrying A rings (especially the slightly larger males).

The next "weather window" was on Tuesday 19th, when Andy/Jerry undertook the 4th Winter Ringing Project visit. It had to be delayed until the afternoon (when the rain had passed through), but the catch of 26 + (17) was likely reduced by the strengthening breeze. Despite this it was the best forecast until after Christmas, and the catch details were Robin 1, Dunnock 1, Coal Tit (2), Blue Tit 18 + (10), Great Tit (3), Nuthatch (1), House Sparrow 5, and Greenfinch 1 + (1).

The Christmas period and the run up to New Year saw more wet/windy weather forecast, with apparently few opportunities for netting. But on Tuesday 26th there was a dry period, so Andy opted to do an "extra" Winter Ringing Project session. He closed one net for part of the time, to (successfully) limit the Blue Tit catch, and he ended with 32 + (4), comprising Blue Tit 10 + (1), Great Tit 2, Nuthatch (1), House Sparrow 11, Goldfinch 7 + (1), and Greenfinch 2 + (1). The ringing total for the month was 119, about average for our recent December totals, but well below the 200+ (in 2016 & 2017) when the bird crops were successful, and attracted several hundred "diners". The YTD is 2341, making it our 2nd lowest annual total of the last decade, but another successful year with all of our projects (except goose roundups) completed.