A Cold Frosty Day

Monday, January 16th 2012

It was very cold and frosty, as the bird ringers met for their early morning cup of tea before heading out.  Some of the net poles had frozen and a kettle of hot water was needed to part them so the nets could be put up.

Frost had coated the vegetation and trees making the reserve look spectacular.

On closer examination the patterns of frost on the vegetation made for a magical world in miniature.   These two photographs show the frost covering Bramble leaves.

This seed head of Self Heal has a beautiful arrangement of frost and ice.

Net rounds were carried out frequently to make sure that no birds were left in the nets for long as it was so cold.  Over 250 birds were caught including many retraps of birds ringed previously.  The data collected from these birds gives interesting insights into their lives and some are repeatedly found at Foxglove in only January of each year.  Over 40 adult Chaffinches were processed, one of them was eight years old, and there were other small songbirds over four years old.  A six year old Blackbird was also caught.  Birds that were ringed today included Siskin, Goldfinch, Wren and Reed Bunting.

Although the frost lifted during the day the temperature had dropped below freezing as staff and ringers departed.

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