In the red

Another good morning was has by the team with 100 birds ringed down the Ings. It looks like the Redwing and Lesser Redpoll are now passing through in bigger numbers – Hopefully, we’ll manage to ring a few more thrushes mid-week as numbers build and they come home to roost.

Lesser Redpoll

100 New birds and (4) retraps – Treecreeper 1(1), Wren 2, Great Tit 4, Reed Bunting 1, Tree Sparrow 19(1), Goldfinch 49(1), Blue Tit 3, Dunnock 3, Bullfinch 1, Chaffinch 1, Robin 2, Yellow Hammer 1, Blackbird 4, Redwing 7, Song Thrush 2, Long-tailed Tit (1).

I’ve also managed to get out in Wharfedale with Andy a few nights this week and the numbers of Redwing and Lesser Redpoll there have been brilliant. We’ve ringed 31 Redwing, 27 Lesser Redpoll, 30 Goldcrest, numerous tits, a Blackbird, a Chiffchaff and two Siskin (A ringing tick for me).

Gold rush

Andy was back today - Having been out of action with an injured toe for a while. It turned out to be a good day for Goldcrest down Timble with 53 ringed. A net round of over 50 birds was also pleasing.

Andy was pleased with the net round

99 New birds – Goldcrest 53, Coal Tit 17, Lesser Redpoll 8, Chiffchaff 7, Long-tailed Tit 7, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit 2, Chaffinch 1, Robin 1.

Yet more Redpoll

I didn’t ring myself today but the rest of the group did. Looks like they had another good day with over 100 birds ringed including more Lesser Redpoll and what must be our last Blackcap of the year. In addition, DZ got to ring his first Kingfisher.

Blackcap ringed on 18 October 2009 (D Bass)

Kingfisher ringed on 18 October 2009 (D Bass)

102 Birds ringed in total. Kingfisher (1), Wren (2), Robin (1), Blackbird (18), Song Thrush (12), Redwing (1), Blackcap (1), Marsh Tit (1), Coal Tit (1), Tree Sparrow (18), Chaffinch (1), Goldfinch (14), Lesser Redpoll (26), Reed Bunting (5).

Here come the Redpoll

It was quiet at first today so we got the breakfast on. At that point, Redpoll started flying into the net at a rate of about one a minute and they were even flying in as we stood there extracting the rest of the flock.

We passed one of Dave’s sneaky tests today - He extracted a Redwing without us knowing and hung the bag up amongst the Song Thrushes to see if we’d notice.

Also, I got to ring my first Yellowhammer and DZ got to ring his first Jay.

Yellowhammer ringed on 17 October 2009 (A Smith)

132 Birds ringed in total. Wren (7), Dunnock (4), Robin (2), Blackbird (11), Song Thrush (13), Redwing (4), Great Tit (1), Jay (1), Tree Sparrow (19), Greenfinch (2), Goldfinch (11), Lesser Redpoll (56), Yellowhammer (1).