1st session this autumn as weather been rubbish since the end of July, with it being too windy even in the dryer mornings so prob missed lots of T Pipits now.
Sat 24th Aug 19. 6AM - 10.30AM. with Mike Killelea.
Clear and sunny. 5-10 SE breeze.
2 small 40ft nets targeting T Pipits really. 31 Birds ringed.
Quiet for most part with very little moving in the trees. Overhead movement was just a steady trickle of 2-3 M Pipits at a time and then 1-2 Tree Pipits over south with them. Ended with at least 15 TP passing over but frustratingly only 4 went in the nets. Swallows became noticeable later in the morning heading south prob in family groups. Other notable birds present were a Redstart which flew over us associating with a tit flock and a Sparrowhawk hassling anything that moved which eventually ended up in the net.. The main hightlight of the morning was the very large southerly movement of Butterflies. Dozens passed direct south and at speed during the morning. Mostly Painted Lady but also numerous Red Admiral with a scattering of Peacock too. Amazing sight.
Moving south..
T Pipit - at least 15 (4 ringed).
M Pipit - c100 over the morning steady trickle in 1-4 bird groups.
R Bunting - 6+ in singles with Pipits (4 ringed).
Chaffinch - 20+ singles south (6 ringed).
L Redpoll - 30+ south in small parties (6 ringed).
Swallow - 25+, small groups south later in the morning.
Other birds present... Small tit flock (TF) blogging with a mix of other stuff in with them. W Warb - a few with the TF (6 ringed), Chiffchaff - 1 heard with TF (1 ringed), Goldcrest - 2-3 heard to call with TF (2 ringed), Sparrowhawk (1 Juv
Male ringed), Robin 2, Raven 2 over.
Pics.. Imm Sparrowhawk, L Redpoll, R Bunting and a Tree Pipit.
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:01:39 AM
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:25:22 AM
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:26:17 AM
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:43:18 AM
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:43:43 AM
3 single M Pipit were the only birds moving overhead and they were during a thinning of the fog period..
Nothing much else seen or heard for 2+ hrs until the local Tit Flock came passing through like a big swarm. Didn't see anything unusual in there but numbers of Phyllosc Warblers were very impressive. Never seen so many together. Crouched at the end of the nets watching as they flew into the nets one after another was fascinating and worrying at the same time. Having lots of birds quickly entering the nets can be problematic for ringers and a calm head is needed to extract them quickly but carefully.
All removed from the net 21 W Warbs, 10 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrests, 8 Coal Tits and 14 L Redpoll had been caught !! Aswell as the numerous common tit species removed and let go to lighten the load. No doubt ill be seeing them again..
Pics 1 of the numerous W Warms and Ad Male L Redpoll.
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:27:08 AM
-- Edited by C Bel on Tuesday 27th of August 2019 10:30:19 AM
