Friday 21st
There was no hope of ringing in the morning after lightning, thunder hail and sleet but the forecast for the afternoon was much better and so we gave it a go. Eleven new birds might not sound much but when one of them was the Hume's Warbler which had been found earlier it all seemed very worthwhile. This was a first for the Observatory and so a first for the ringing team. There were also thrushes around but only three Blackbirds were ringed. The other new birds were six Long-tailed Tits and a Blue Tit. Amongst the retraps were two Chiffchaffs and two Firecrests.
Tuesday 18th
In a first for the autumn we were welcomed by a thick frost. It remained fairly calm but did cloud over. We were kept busy ringing through the morning. In the end there were 41 new birds and 62 subsequent encounters. The definite highlight was a Blackcap with a Danish ring. It will be interesting to see if we can tell from the information if it was likely to be heading here for the winter or a slightly off-course bird heading further south.
The most numerous new bird was Redpoll (all Lesser types) with 17. Seven Blackbirds were not unexpected but five new Chiffchaffs were of note. The other new birds were four Goldcrests, three Song Thrushes, two Blackcaps and singles of Chaffinch, Redwing and Firecrest. There were also five retrap Firecrests.
Saturday 15th
We chose to ignore the one forecast which had persistently said it would rain this morning and it was just as well all the other forecasts were for no rain and were correct. It remains mild although after a clear start fog gathered and added a damper feel to the air. There were thrushes around again and they quickly moved on inland. Other migrants continue to trickle through and 22 birds were ringed. These were eight Goldcrests, five Chaffinches, two each of Blackbird, Blackcap, House Sparrow and Redwing plus a Song Thrush. It is the first time for a while with no Firecrest - new or subsequent!
Every clump of bushes now has a Robin ticking away first thing but although there were five subsequent encounters there were no new birds.
Thursday 13th
The forecasted showers did not show and, unusually for here, the wind dropped through the morning. With it being mild there are still plenty of crests and the like around. There were 38 new birds and, reflecting the food availability, 23 retraps. A flock of 16 cabaret-type Redpolls all graced the net at once. There were nine new Goldcrests and five retraps. The Firecrest fest continued with another new bird plus three retraps. Although there were three new Chiffchaffs there were no retraps - maybe they have looked at the approaching forecast. The other new birds were three Blackbirds, two Blackcaps and singles of Blue Tit, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and Robin.
Frustratingly there was a Yellow-browed Warbler calling nearby but it was not interested in getting a ring.
Tuesday 11th
We grabbed a short gap between the wind and rain to get a few nets up Although there were lots of Blackbirds around first thing they quickly moved on and only four were caught. Firecrest continued their great run with another three today. The other highlight was a female Sparrowhawk. The rest were singles of Blackcap, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and cabaret-type Redpoll.
Sunday 9th
A calm, mild, morning coincided with a ringing team being available. Seventy-six birds were ringed. It was typical late autumn fare including the first Fieldfare of the autumn. Cabaret-type Redpolls numbered 19 followed by 17 Chiffchaffs, 14 Blackbirds, five Blackcaps, four each of Blue Tit and Goldcrest, three Song Thrushes, two Robins and singles of Chaffinch, Dunnock. Firecrest, Redwing and Wren.
With the mild weather aiding survival it will be interesting to see if we get any evidence that the Blackcaps are UK survivors or birds coming in from the continent to winter here.
Friday 7th
Today was overcast and fairly calm. Despite feeling a bit cooler it is still mild.
Forty-two birds were ringed with the definite star being a Pallas's Warbler. New Blackbirds continue to arrive and 25 were ringed, plus three Redwings and two Song Thrushes. The annual total for Firecrest has now reached an impressive 60 with another new bird today. The other new birds were two each of Blackcap, Blue Tit, Goldcrest and Redpoll, plus singles of Chiffchaff (although there were four subsequent encounters) and Robin.