A long and rewarding day in the ringing site, began pre dawn as I set a couple of nets for a ringing session. A steady flow of Redwings and Fieldfares could be heard flying overhead in the dark and so it was with some excitement I awaited dawn. Once the light was up it was evident that a major arrival of Redwings was taking place with several hundred dropping into the ringing site and then moving quickly inland. They move through so quickly, it is impossible to sift through them in the hope of something rarer. These arrivals continued through most of the morning, and with Nick birding the wider area, a total in excess of 2200 Redwings estimated for the Long Nab area. Over 200 Fieldfares were also estimated along with smaller Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and a handful of Ring Ouzels.
With an increase in drizzle the nets had to be furled mid-morning, but the rain abated around lunchtime enabling a few more birds to be caught. The nets were furled for the final time around 1400hrs with a pleasing total of 43 birds caught (from just 3 nets) with totals as follows:
Redwing (2), Blackbird (3), Robin (8), Goldcrest (12), Brambling (2), Goldfinch (1), Lesser Redpoll (15).
A new bird for my patch list came in the form of a Hawfinch which circled the plantation three times before appearing to drop in. However, I couldn't refind it. Other highlights included a Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs including one potential abietinus type, whilst Nick notched up Mealy Redpoll, Redstart, Jack Snipe and two Short-eared Owls. Although lacking in something a bit rarer, this was truly a fantastic day in the field and classic east coast autumnal birding at its best.
With an increase in drizzle the nets had to be furled mid-morning, but the rain abated around lunchtime enabling a few more birds to be caught. The nets were furled for the final time around 1400hrs with a pleasing total of 43 birds caught (from just 3 nets) with totals as follows:
Redwing (2), Blackbird (3), Robin (8), Goldcrest (12), Brambling (2), Goldfinch (1), Lesser Redpoll (15).
A new bird for my patch list came in the form of a Hawfinch which circled the plantation three times before appearing to drop in. However, I couldn't refind it. Other highlights included a Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs including one potential abietinus type, whilst Nick notched up Mealy Redpoll, Redstart, Jack Snipe and two Short-eared Owls. Although lacking in something a bit rarer, this was truly a fantastic day in the field and classic east coast autumnal birding at its best.