Wednesday 22nd
A lovely, calm, day with warm sunny intervals - the lull before the storm. Today might well be the last time for about a week when conditions are suitable to ring and it was pleasing to be joined by some of our trainees. It was an interesting morning with 95 new birds plus two birds with rings from elsewhere in the UK. Fat Chiffchaffs continued their good run with another 26 plus a control. Amongst the 15 Goldcrests there was one with fat 5 and another with a ring from elsewhere. Most of the ten Blackbirds were long-winged, heavy, dark, continental types. The rest of the new birds were ten Blackcaps, six Song Thrushes, five each of Blue Tit and Robin, and two each of Great Tit and House Sparrow. Finches remain in low numbers with just four Redpolls and four Goldfinches. We were within a couple of feet of equalling the best year for Firecrests when the third new one of the day refused to funnel along the heligoland trap.
Tuesday 21st
Although much breezier than forecast the weather was still mild and a big improvement on the torrential squalls of yesterday. The team size limited hat could be put up but we still ringed 75 birds. Crests led the way with 22 Goldcrests and three more Firecrests. We are just a couple short of our best year for the latter. There were 12 new Long-tailed Tits, three Great Tits and a Blue Tit. There was a late push of Blackcaps with 11 new birds. The rest were nine Blackbirds, eight Chiffchaffs, two each of Chaffinch and Robin, plus a cabaret type Redpoll and a Song Thrush.
The Chiffchaffs are benefitting from the mild conditions and showing good fat scores of three to five.
Saturday 18th
Excellent conditions with no wind to start with and a thin layer of cloud. As our small team went out we could hear plenty of movement in the bushes and overhead. In the end we ringed 122 birds, once again there were no controls. The highlight was nine Firecrests. Chiffchaff took back the lead with 24, closely followed by 22 Goldcrests. There were nine Blackbirds, six Robins, five Redwings, four Blue Tits, three Song Thrushes and singles of Blackcap, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great Tit, House Sparrow and Wren.
The contrast between the fat scores of the newly arrived Redwing (mostly 0) and the Chiffchaffs (with several up to fat 4 or 5) is noticeable. All the Redpoll showed standard cabaret features.
Friday 17th
Although it started cloudy there was no threat of drizzle and there was a slightly fresher north-easterly. It was quieter and only Goldcrest made it into double figures with 18. There were three more Firecrests. New Blackbirds continue to arrive with another five today. The other new birds were four Chiffchaffs, three Goldfinches, and singles of Blackcap, Redpoll and Robin.
The ringing team diminished as two visiting ringers said their farewells - thanks for the help.
Thursday 16th
A later start due to the forecast and there was one very heavy shower fist thing. After that 78 birds were ringed. Colours were important today with 22 Goldcrests (plus the daily Firecrest), 12 Goldfinch, 12 Redpoll and six Blackbirds (of the larger darker northern continental type). There were also two Blackcaps, seven Chiffchaffs, eight Long-tailed Tits, three Robins and single House Sparrow, Redwing, Song Thrush and Wren.
Wednesday 15th
The same starting comment as yesterday except the breeze freshened during the morning. There are plenty of thrushes arriving but other numbers remain quiet. We ringed 55 birds of which there were 14 Blackbirds, nine Goldcrests (with another Firecrest), six each of Redpoll and Redwing, four each of Robin and Chiffchaff, two each of Chaffinch and Song Thrush plus singles of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit. The other species was a very late Reed Warbler, it was thoroughly measured and everything fitted standard Reed Warbler. The Chiffchaffs had plenty of fat and so may have been around a day or so and built up stores whilst they wait for conditions to improve.
Tuesday 14th
A damp, drizzly, start with a bit more of a north easterly than expected. The drizzle was lighter than yesterday and got lighter. So, after a delayed start, forty birds were ringed. Goldcrest was most numerous with 13 birds. There were also three more Firecrests taking the autumn total up to 34. The continued arrival of thrushes was reflected by six Blackbirds, two Song Thrushes and two Redwing. The tick of Robins was more noticeable and there were six new birds. The other new birds were three Chiffchaffs plus single Blackcap, Redpoll and Wren. Two new House Sparrows were a bit unexpected.
Monday 13th
It was noticeable that as dawn arrived and heads were stuck out of windows the amount of rain in the forecast increased. It was very frustrating to hear the thrushes heading inland but not to be able to do much about it. After a delayed start one round was possible and ten birds were ringed - two each of Firecrest, Blackbird, Blackcap and Chiffchaff plus single Redwing and Goldcrest. So far nearly all the Redwing ringed have been adults. Are the young still to come or did they have a poor breeding season?
Sunday 12th
The cloud cover persisted but it felt a bit cooler. There were 49 new birds but only Chiffchaff (25) made it into double figures. There were six each of Blackcap and Goldcrest, three Redpoll, two each of Great Tit and Song Thrush. The rest were singles of Blackbird, Blue Tit, Firecrest, Robin and Wren.
The weather is forecast to get a little more unsettled and maybe that will bring a few more birds in.
Saturday 11th
The cloud never lifted overnight or during the day and it remained calm. So despite a flock of Redwings first thing there was not a big arrival. Seventy six birds were ringed. Thirty were Chiffchaffs, followed by 14 Redpolls, 13 Blackcaps, nine Goldcrests plus a Firecrest, three Blue Tits, two redwing and two Song Thrushes, plus single Blackbird and Chaffinch.
A further indication of reduced movement was the fact that there were 17 retraps, including eight Chiffchaffs.
Friday 10th
Another calm night but this time a complete covering of cloud developed. This increased the catch to 113 new birds. Redpolls of the cabaret type took over with 41 new birds, closely followed by Chiffchaff with 33 and Blackcap with 25. There were six Goldcrests and two Firecrests. New tits continued to appear with two Blue Tits and a Great Tit-there were no retrap tits. The other new birds were a Chaffinch, a Robin and a Song Thrush.
Thursday 9th
Calm and clear last night but this time no cloud gathered. The total returned to average with 66 birds ringed. Chiffchaff had 29 and Blackcap 22. There were another six new Blue Tits. Of more interest were two Cetti's Warblers this time both were males. Four Redwings were all adults and very new in as they were all low weights. The other new birds were a Goldcrest, House Sparrow and Lesser-type Redpoll.
Wednesday 8th
Making hay whilst the moon shines.
The run of calm weather with clear overnight conditions followed by day time cloud continues. We are fortunate to have such a run of weather and the migrants are making the most of it. It was a long session but we ringed 289 birds (plus 18 subsequent encounters). Chiffchaffs continue to provide the backbone with 206 ringed plus, at last, a bird ringed elsewhere in the UK. The next most frequent was Blackcap with 35 but a species we would not have expected to be third was Blue Tit, with 22 new. There were also five Great Tits and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers. To add to the woodland theme there were four new Chaffinches. The remaining new birds were five Goldcrests, two each of Redpoll, Song Thrush and Wren, plus singles of Firecrest, Redwing and Robin.
There is a big range in the fat scores of the birds but the Blackcaps in particular seem to have plenty of fat.
Tuesday 7th
Although it was clear overnight, with a very bright moon, cloud gathered first light and there was even some unexpected drizzle. It remained calm. Once again there were lots of migrants in the bushes and 195 were ringed. Chiffchaff was well ahead with 133, followed by 44 Blackcaps. There were only six Goldcrests and no Firecrests this time. The first Redpolls (six Lessers) of the year were ringed. The other new birds were singles of Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon and Wren. The first control of this busy time was a UK ringed Blackcap.
Monday 6th
A lovely, calm, autumn morning and 117 birds were ringed. There were 62 Chiffchaffs, 41 Blackcaps, nine Goldcrests, two Firecrests and singles of Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Song Thrush. Not bad from just three net rides. Once again there were no birds ringed elsewhere.
Sunday 5th
The wind relented a bit more than forecast allowing some ringing. Seventy-one birds were ringed and 12 retrapped. The slightly higher number of retraps suggested some birds decided to sit out the storm here rather than moving on. Chiffchaff numbered 32 followed by 19 Blackcaps and 15 Goldcrests, There were two more Firecrests plus two Robins and a Blackbird. The rest of the week looks a bit more settled but who knows?
Thursday 2nd
Once again a calm, clear, start but it looks as if this will be the last for a few days. Birds were on the move again and a small team ringed 126 before the breeze started increasing mid-morning. There were 45 Chiffchaffs, 31 Blackcaps, 22 Goldcrests, 13 House Martins, three Firecrests, two Robins, two Blue Tits, two large 'continental-type' female Blackbirds, two Robins, and singles of Swallow, Sand Martin, and Redwing. This time there were four retrap Chiffchaffs but still no birds ringed elsewhere
Wednesday 1st
The birds were making the most of this calm, settled, spell ahead of the approaching storm. There were lots on the move and we ringed 413. Chiffchaff was most numerous with 133 ringed, with no retraps suggesting the previous ones had kept moving. Next was House Martin with 123, all of these were juveniles. Blackcap reached 90 and Goldcrest 37, and so maybe it will be a long awaited Goldcrest autumn. There were also three more Firecrests. The trickle of tits contained seven Blue Tits and the first new Long-tailed Tits (9) for a few weeks. There were five Robins, two each of Meadow Pipit and Siskin, and singles of Swallow and Wren.