24th September 2017

Craig had already done quite a bit of ringing from August onwards but my camping life and visits to Spurn left me frustrated to not manage to get up earlier in the season that I would normally, Birds like Redstart and Spotted Fly in the hand. Craig also noted that he had done rather well in his target species Tree Pipit. Nice to see his endeavours rewarded.

Sunny start to O/cast. Wind 5 -10 SE picking up.

3 nets. 84 birds ringed.

A good morning with more birds passing overhead in better numbers again. Also a decent catch in the nets. Lots of Goldcrests and more unusually for this site and altitude, numerous Chiffchaff.

Birds Ringed.

8 Chiffchaff, 9 Goldcrest, 8 R Bunting, 25 M Pipit, 12 Chaffinch, 20 L Redpoll, 2 Greenfinch.

Vis-Mig Count

Time: 07:15 - 10:30
Temp: 14C-16C
Wind: Light SE
Variable Cloud

Meadow Pipit 221 (inc the 50 you mentioned)
Chiff Chaff x 3
Linnet x 6
Chaffinch x 54
Jackdaw x 10
Rook x1
Carrion Crow x 12
Swallow x 52
Redpoll x 18
LTT x 6
Goldfinch x 13
Blue Tit x 3
Great Tit x 1
Mistle Thrush x 2
Pied Wagtail x 2
Grey Wagtail x 3
Reed Bunting x 15
Pinkfeet x 30
Goldcrest x 2
Kestrel x 1
Jay x 3
Woodpigeon x 4
SparrowHawk x 1
Blackbird x 1
Wren x 1

A chance of Thrushes in the hand?

Thought I would start at the wrong time of year to keep track of any vismig counts and any photos from the ringing in which I observe by the kind permission of Craig Bell.

Today I set off as the clocks went back to meet Craig in his usual spot on Crown point. He already had the nets up (he's keen) so I got on with the Vismig.

It was not cold at 9.3C and there was only a light southerly wind.

Bernard soon joined us and kept an eye on proceedings during the morning. Parties of Fieldfare were going through and helped along with good numbers of Woodpigeon interspersed with the lovely Stock Dove.

Seemed to come in fits and starts and before long Craig pointed to the time, about 12:50. Wow where did that time go. Redpoll were the order of the day with Craig ringing plenty of them. Despite the hope of Crossbills non were netted.

Time 07:00 - 13:40

Temp Max 12.6C  Min Temp 9C

Wind Speed 5.7mph Max 0.8mph Ave
Wind Direction South

Vismig Count

Redwing 10, 45, 3, 15, 20, 7, 2 Total 102

Fieldfare 6, 7, 18, 7, 62, 21, 23, 38, 133, 41, 21, 4, 104, 12, 17, 64  Total 640

Redpoll 4, 1, 2, 5, 2, 7, 4  Total 25

Goldcrest 6

Robin 3

Starling 3, 4, 50  Total 57

Siskin 17 (south) 7, 6, 3,1  Total 34

Wren 2

Brambling 5, 12, 5, 3  Total 25

Woodpigeon 10, 12, 22, 8, 32, 2, 63, 74, 43, 36, 40, 29, 9, 3, 15, 19, 64, 3, 6  Total 490

Blue Tit 4

Jackdaw 32, 12, 6  Total 50

Mallard 1

Reed Bunting 14

Chaffinch 5, 1, 2, 1, 1,  Total 10

Stock Dove 1, 6  Total 7

Great Tit 1

Linnet 1

Long Tailed Tit 10, 12  Total 22

Mistle Thrush 1, 2, 1, 1  Total 5

Bullfinch 1

Kestrel 1

Blackbird 2

Carrion Crow 6

Craig Bell's Ringing Totals

71 birds ringed, 3 nets up initially targeting Thrushes but none caught so then Finches.. Caught more of some species than we actually saw !

10 Goldcrest,
10 L T Tit,
1 Chaffinch,
2 Brambling,
6 Siskin
42 Redpoll (including a possible continental Mealy)