early November

The high pressure continued and on a cold Monday 4th, Andy and Jerry completed the first WRP visit to the feeders at Pennorth, for a very useful catch of 33 + (15) in 3 hours. "Tits" made up the majority of the birds, with some early finches - usually not appearing until late winter. All of the re-traps were from the 2022/23 winter sessions. In the afternoon, Jerry had a short session at the hut feeders for 9 + (4). The only "non tit" was a Chaffinch (though a second had scaly legs and was not ringed). Details of the days catch was Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 + (1), Wren 1, Dunnock 2, Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit 20 + (15), Great Tit 6, House Sparrow 4 + (2), Goldfinch 7, and Chaffinch 1.

Wednesday 6th was another small catch, with Jerry netting the scrub in the afternoon, before Andy took over for the roost. The catch was Robin 2, Blackbird 1, Blue Tit (1), Lesser Redpoll 1, and Bullfinch (2).

On Sunday 10th, Jerry tried the hut feeders again, and unsurprisingly, the catch was mainly re-trapped "tits". The catch of 6 + (9) was made up of Blue Tit 2 + (6), Great Tit 1 + (3), and Greenfinch 3.

On Tuesday 12th, Jerry tried the scrub again from late morning, before Jeremy/Robin took over for the afternoon/roost. There was a cold NE breeze blowing, "dumping" leaves in two of the exposed nets which needing clearing on most net rounds. Despite this, the catch was no worse than recent (poor) catches, and the roost produced some Redwing. The session ended on 11 + (4), and as with the last scrub catch, the first bird (caught within a few minutes of the net being set/tape playing) was a Lesser Redpoll. Small groups have been seen in the general area, but they seem to be staying in the alder carr woodlands, some distance away. The mix comprised Robin (1), Blackbird 2, Redwing 3, Goldcrest 1 + (1), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit 2 + (1), Great Tit 1 and Lesser Redpoll 1.

On Wednesday 13th, Andy and Jerry did an "extra" WRP visit for 21 + (19). Only a few of the retraps were from WRP visit 1, but were ringed in last winter's monitoring. The mix was Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 + (1), Dunnock 1 + (1), Blue Tit 7 + (15), Great Tit 1 + (1), House Sparrow 2, Goldfinch 5, and Greenfinch 4 + (1).

The final visit for this period saw Jerry taping the scrub again on Thursday 14th, in excellent catching conditions. The total was only a modest 10 + (1), but included a decent variety - Wren 1, Robin (1), Chiffchaff 1, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Nuthatch 1, Bullfinch 1, Goldfinch 1, and Lesser Redpoll 1.