Finally, we got a fine day without wind and it just happened to be after a night when the temperature had been forecast to drop to minus 6 in our area. Snow that fell two days before was still lying in some areas and frost and ice remained throughout the whole session.
We targetted thrushes and did quite well, but we were also very pleased to get eight pre-processed Robins, some dating back to 2014. Most of the Robins were carrying a lot of fat and were well prepared for the cold snap.
Totals: 50 (12)
Dunnock - 1 (1)
Robin - 1 (8)
Blackbird - 2 (1)
Fieldfare - 13
Song Thrush - 1
Redwing - 25
Goldcrest - 2 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 5 (1)
We returned to Staines Moor in the evening to probably try out the thermal imager for the last time before its return, and really did not find it much easier to use due to the lack of magnification, even on a slightly colder night. We did identify a couple of Jack Snipe, but these flew off. There were quite a few Snipe heard, along with a couple of Wigeon and a Redshank. There were a couple of mice picked up feeding on the weed found over the open water, and eventually a Pipit was picked up and caught in the hand net. A leg full of water was collected in WA's wellingtons, for what was expected to be a Water Pipit, but turned out to be a Meadow Pipit, which was duly processed and again returned to the same spot. A couple of Water Pipit were also seen later, but none picked up by the imager, and we left the moor under moderate drizzle.
Total: 1
Meadow Pipit - 1
We targetted thrushes and did quite well, but we were also very pleased to get eight pre-processed Robins, some dating back to 2014. Most of the Robins were carrying a lot of fat and were well prepared for the cold snap.
Fieldfare
Redwing with wing of 125mm and some dark centres to
undertail coverts - but those legs look a bit pale for coburni.
Female Blackbird
Song Thrush aged 3
Totals: 50 (12)
Dunnock - 1 (1)
Robin - 1 (8)
Blackbird - 2 (1)
Fieldfare - 13
Song Thrush - 1
Redwing - 25
Goldcrest - 2 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 5 (1)
We returned to Staines Moor in the evening to probably try out the thermal imager for the last time before its return, and really did not find it much easier to use due to the lack of magnification, even on a slightly colder night. We did identify a couple of Jack Snipe, but these flew off. There were quite a few Snipe heard, along with a couple of Wigeon and a Redshank. There were a couple of mice picked up feeding on the weed found over the open water, and eventually a Pipit was picked up and caught in the hand net. A leg full of water was collected in WA's wellingtons, for what was expected to be a Water Pipit, but turned out to be a Meadow Pipit, which was duly processed and again returned to the same spot. A couple of Water Pipit were also seen later, but none picked up by the imager, and we left the moor under moderate drizzle.
Total: 1
Meadow Pipit - 1