A morning visit to the orchard, DKL and myself having set and furled the nets the night before, I was met by ESA, RMA and PW, minus D as she was at work, and a lack of frost, and consequently a lack of birds in the morning fog/mist. Only three birds were caught, with thankfully at least one Redwing, but Thrushes were few at the site.
Totals: 2 (1)
Blackbird - 1
Redwing - 1
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
We were joined by ESA, RMA and PW for an attempt at the Pied Wagtail roost this evening. On arrival it really didn't look good as several vans were scattered around the coach park. With time, most moved away and the last vehicles moved off as we set the two three panel 40s along the hedge. At that point a tow truck came and abandoned a Red Ford Fiesta that had obviously encountered some nature of front end accident (and didn't appear drivable) along with its two very unhappy looking occupants right in the wrong place. As roosting time approached birds started to gather on the services roof. The wind was getting up so the nets were billowing much more than we would have wanted or was forecast. At that point the AA man arrived and started to attend to the stricken vehicle - right in front of the nets where the wagtails would usually totter about prior to roost. This really was the last straw and with birds diving straight into the roost trees from above, we abandoned our effort and took down.
We resisted the temptation to call in at 'The Hope and Champion' the first motorway service station pub in the country, a Weatherspoons, that opened on site at 4am this morning, amidst much controversy, and went home early.
http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/21/jd-wetherspoon-opens-hope-and-champion-on-m4-motorway-despite-criticism-4270987/
Totals: 2 (1)
Blackbird - 1
Redwing - 1
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
We were joined by ESA, RMA and PW for an attempt at the Pied Wagtail roost this evening. On arrival it really didn't look good as several vans were scattered around the coach park. With time, most moved away and the last vehicles moved off as we set the two three panel 40s along the hedge. At that point a tow truck came and abandoned a Red Ford Fiesta that had obviously encountered some nature of front end accident (and didn't appear drivable) along with its two very unhappy looking occupants right in the wrong place. As roosting time approached birds started to gather on the services roof. The wind was getting up so the nets were billowing much more than we would have wanted or was forecast. At that point the AA man arrived and started to attend to the stricken vehicle - right in front of the nets where the wagtails would usually totter about prior to roost. This really was the last straw and with birds diving straight into the roost trees from above, we abandoned our effort and took down.
We resisted the temptation to call in at 'The Hope and Champion' the first motorway service station pub in the country, a Weatherspoons, that opened on site at 4am this morning, amidst much controversy, and went home early.
http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/21/jd-wetherspoon-opens-hope-and-champion-on-m4-motorway-despite-criticism-4270987/