It took a bit of persuading to get Chris out after a tiring Gull ringing session on Saturday, but with a few days booked off and the week apparently likely to deteriorate from Tuesday onwards he soon gave in. So, where should we go? The orchard was still pretty much under snow so it was decided to check out Stanwell. We hadn't been for months so we didn't know what was about, but there were lots of thrushes along the access road and little moving around the frozen lake so, against our better judgement, because in our experience they always depart as soon as the nets go up, decided to plump for thrushes. While setting up, a sizable flock of some 300+ Linnets in an adjacent field also caught our attention and we had a second focus of attention.
As it turned out we only got one Linnet and two Fieldfare, but overall the morning was still worthwhile in terms of the catch. Chris got a ringing tick in the form of a Stockdove and we shall be giving the Linnets another try as soon as we get the chance.
Fieldfare - age 6
Blackbird - 5 female
Stock Dove - age 5
Greenfinch - 5 male
Linnet - 5 female
Frozen pit
Totals - 34 (2)
Stockdove - 1
Dunnock - 9
Robin - 2
Blackbird - 1
Fieldfare - 2
Song Thrush - 4 (1)
Chaffinch - 7
Goldfinch - 1
Greenfinch - 6 (1)
Linnet - 1