The wind looked quite low with freezing fog forecast. As it turned out there was no fog although there had been a drop in temperature and everything was completely frozen.
We decided to put a double along the track, a walk-in trap on the mound for Meadow Pipits and three singles in the reedbed, including a new ride through an area with a lot of new reed and willow growth. This area had been completely dry the previous year when the water level was artificially low due to water being pumped out to prevent lorries raising excessive quantities of dust, and since the water level has risen the reeds have really thickened out.
We had a few birds to start with, tapes brought in wintering Chiffchaff and there were even a few Redwings too. The Long-tailed Tits managed to evade the track net, as they usually do, but there were a few Goldcrests to attract to the net in the reedbed, bringing a few other species with them, although playing Firecrest and Cetti's Warbler proved fruitless.The Meadow Pipits were nowhere to be seen - so we were glad that we'd not put up a three net configuration.
The species diversity was quite good, largely due to a number of singles of different species captured specifically Song Thrush, Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch. Linnet and Long-tailed Tit.
Brett have been working to relandscape the area immediately next to where we ring. It's all done now with nothing left but to let the grass grow. This area has seen a lot of changes over the years.
Totals : 24 (5)
Blackbird - 0 (1)
Songthrush - 1
We decided to put a double along the track, a walk-in trap on the mound for Meadow Pipits and three singles in the reedbed, including a new ride through an area with a lot of new reed and willow growth. This area had been completely dry the previous year when the water level was artificially low due to water being pumped out to prevent lorries raising excessive quantities of dust, and since the water level has risen the reeds have really thickened out.
One of six Chiffchaff captured on the day
We had a few birds to start with, tapes brought in wintering Chiffchaff and there were even a few Redwings too. The Long-tailed Tits managed to evade the track net, as they usually do, but there were a few Goldcrests to attract to the net in the reedbed, bringing a few other species with them, although playing Firecrest and Cetti's Warbler proved fruitless.The Meadow Pipits were nowhere to be seen - so we were glad that we'd not put up a three net configuration.
4M Reed Bunting
3F Chaffinch - nice to get one without diseased legs
The track has been improved and gated while the area behind
was levelled and set to seed. December 2017
This area has changed a lot over the years. When we started ringing here there was a disused conveyor belt, still there 2009.
Conveyor belt and shingle heaps June 2009 - back then we'd get
Little Ringed Plovers here.
June 2015 - hardcore storage and we were never sure
whether access would be possible with the vehicle.
More storage for recycling April 2017
By September they started work on shifting
the mound of earth and metal. September 2017
There should now be less disturbance near our rides.
Blackbird - 0 (1)
Songthrush - 1
Redwing - 3
Dunnock - 1
Robin - 0 (1)
Chiffchaff - 6
Goldcrest - 5 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 1 (1)
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Chaffinch -1
Linnet - 1
Reed Bunting - 1