A day of two halves

I was optimistic for more Yellowhammers at Bishop Monkton this morning. But, with it looking like rain when I got there only one net was opened - Ten minutes later it was shut again. Breakfast was had, the feeders were topped up and I was back home by nine.

1 New bird and (1) retrap – Yellowhammer 1, Reed Bunting (1).

The afternoon brought a dramatic change in the weather with some glorious sunshine. I joined Andy and others in Wharfedale to put a net up for the Fieldfare we’d seen coming into roost earlier in the week. A nice little catch was had but numbers were nowhere near what we were getting in the Autumn.

8 New birds – Lesser Redpoll 4, Fieldfare 2, Robin 1, Goldcrest 1.

Bling

Natasha and I joined Andy for a spot of roost ringing on this chilly evening with Fieldfare being the target species - Several hundred came into roost and we managed to pick off another seven. An added bonus were seven Brambling caught when a small flock passed through. Brambling are a stunning bird and were another ringing tick for me.

20 New birds ringed – Brambling 7, Fieldfare 7, Bullfinch 2, Goldcrest 2, Siskin 1, Lesser Redpoll 1.

A misty Halloween

The glorious sunshine forecast turned out to be mist with the occasional light shower here in Wharfedale. Between showers we managed to ring a few birds this evening but were a little disappointed given the potential – These Fieldfare are proving tricky to catch!

8 New birds ringed – Redwing 5, Fieldfare 2, Bullfinch 1.

Fieldfare good times

I met up with Andy and Iain this evening with Redwing and Long-eared Owl the target species. The plan soon changed when hundreds of Fieldfare came into roost. To be honest, we weren’t best set up net wise to catch them but we did manage a few so Svensson came out and it was a ringing tick for me. Back there tomorrow so hopefully we’ll get a few more and the odd owl would round Halloween of nicely twoo.

Fieldfare - Ringed on 30 October 2010

23 New birds ringed – Fieldfare 7, Redwing 10, Lesser Redpoll 5, Siskin 1.

Roost ringing

It was a glorious evening with clear blue skies and no wind so we decided to try our hand at roost ringing in between repairing the shed roof and topping up the feeders for the winter. Redwing was the catch of the evening and it was good to see Fieldfares migrating too.