Saturday, 9 February 2013

Wraysbury - 9 February 2013

A few weeks ago CL noticed that many of the dogrose bushes at Wraysbury had a decent crop of rosehips so we've waited for some harsh weather but that doesn't seem to be happening now so we decided to give the area a try for winter thrushes today, and at the same time try out our new ringing trolley.

Our newly acquired and adapted all terrain vehicle.

For starters there was drizzle, right from the very start, but unperturbed we continued and hauled the kit over to the identified area. We had thought that Waxwing might be an outside possibility but there was no evidence of such exotic visitors and even the Redwings and Fieldfare were elsewhere, probably ground feeding on open grassy areas nearby as the earth was so soft and waterlogged.

The site of a favoured 40/60/60 dog-leg, never normally damp.
 
Although the rosehips had clearly taken a hammering over the passed few weeks the birds had alternative options today and we only caught 3 birds.


Chris and the trolley, coping well with the mud.

 Too much surface water for our liking.

Open areas created by resident ponies.
 Negotiating the mire. 

Itinerate ponies

Totals: 2 (1)

Dunnock - 1(1)
Blue Tit - 1