As we arrived in the semi dark there were large flocks of Fieldfare, Redwing and Blackbird feeding on the ample harvest of Hawthorn berries. We got three singles up and a double to try for finches using the wild bird seed crop. It was noticeable that the thrushes were soon on their way, including those well away from where we were working and we concluded that these were migratory flocks moving through as we had seen a few weeks earlier at Whinhill Orchard. We did quite well, considering the double failed to net a single bird, and the surrounding area became shrouded in mist for part of the morning.
Joined by LC we processed 34 new and 3 recaptured birds. Highlights were 5 Redwing, 5 Chaffinch and 8 Blackbirds including some very nice examples of continental birds.
Total: 34 (3)
Blackbird - 8
Blue Tit - 12 (2)
Chaffinch - 5
Dunnock - 2 (1)
Great Tit - 1
Redwing - 5
Robin - 1