Bird Ringing at Last!

Several weeks have past since the bird ringers were able to raise the mist nets.  Wind, gales and rain have all appeared over the  weekends.  Blue skies, cold and snow met the ringers this morning, but no wind and no rain!

The garden net caught the usual array of birds.  Coal Tits are back in the reserve for the winter.  Other visitors to the feeders include Robin, Nuthatch, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch and Bullfinch.  Sparrowhawk also knows where the feeders are, but this does not deter the smaller birds from returning.

Over the last few weeks Blackbirds have been seen feeding in the Hawthorn trees along the access road.  Speculation is that they may be migrants from Europe.

Fieldfares were in the Holly tree in the Ancient Hedgeline on the moor, during the week.  This is unusual as often the berries are still on that tree by spring.  A Song Thrush was heard singing loudly from the dead tree above the ponds by the lake and a Kestrel was sitting in a tree by the access road.  Mallards and Moorhens are on the lake and are using the duck raft.  Mallards appear to have the upperhand and chase the Moorhens off!  The Kingfisher has also been recorded on the lake and was photographed today.

Over 100 birds were processed including Woodpeckers and Redpolls, taking the total of new birds ringed on the reserve to over 55k.. Thank you to everyone who helped.