Today was the first day mist netting at the farm. The chosen site, close to farm buildings incorporates the hedgerow and buffer strip planted especially to feed wild birds with additional supplementary feeding. We hope this will work, both as a winter Constant Effort Site and for capture of Tree Sparrows.
It was a problematic session, with heavy, threatening clouds that brought one heavy shower before the expected downpour late in the morning. It was necessary to close the nets once before nets were taken down for 11:30am. However, a catch of 43 birds, albeit no Tree Sparrows as yet, proved this to be a good choice of location for the new CES.
Leading species was Dunnock, including the retrap of a juvenile bird with a UK ring.
Total: 42 (1)
Wren - 3
Robin - 6
Dunnock - 9 (1)
Blackbird - 3
Long-tailed Tit - 7
Blue Tit - 7
Great Tit - 3
House Sparrow - 4