Bramblings and the Lake

 We have been extremely fortunate with the weather recently and today was no exception; it was 't' shirt and barbeque conditions which are ideal for the ringers - and the birds too!  Ten ringers turned out and they processed 211 birds of 15 species which included 52 new Bramblings, some of them adult males in absolutely pristine condition like the one shown.  A 10 year old Chaffinch was retrapped which had not been caught  on the reserve since 2003.  Where has it been in the meantime!?  

Another Lesser Redpoll ringed elsewhere was also caught making 10 we are awaiting information on from the BTO.

Below is a picture of the lake filling up taken just before dusk.  The water is almost up to the bottom of the weir, but none of the wooden lats have been replaced yet so there is more than another metre in height to go which will take several days.  Visitors to the reserve reported a family of Otters playing in the pools on the wetland today which seems to corroborate similar information received yesterday.  They were convinced that is what they were watching but this will be subject to further investigation.