Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Baconsthorpe Castle Wild Camp

Saturday 28 October 2023

Baconsthorpe Castle Wild Camp - 28th October 2013

Today we hoped to catch mainly thrushes as the site has a wealth of berry bushes ripe for the plucking. There were a lot of Redwings and Blackbirds on arrival, but many departed and the ones that remained to feed tended to stay in the higher trees. We had flocks passing overhead and several groups dropped in when the fog closed in. The total for the day was 39 birds, Redwing leading with 14 and Goldcrest second with 8 new.

A female Blackcap was an unexpected bonus.

Thanks to DMD for assisting. Appropriate licence held for all ringing activities.

3FBlackcap

Redwing showing particularly warm colouration to median tips

Female Bullfinch aged 3

Total: 35 (4)

Redwing - 14
Blackbird- 3
Wren - 4
Robin - 3 (2)
Dunnock - 1
Blackcap - 1
Goldcrest - 8 (1)
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Bullfinch - 1

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.