Tuesday 13 March 2012

More Vis, More Ringing and Two Moths!

Once again Craig, Ian and I met at the 'obs' at 5.45 a.m. (it's getting earlier!) to do some ringing and 'vis miging'. Just after we had put the nets up we were treated to a display by a hunting Barn Owl as it floated along in the half-light.

As it dawned with full cloud cover and a very light WNW wind birds started to move. Our vis totals included 197 Meadow Pipits, Reed Bunting, 41 Alba Wags, 2 Lesser Redpolls, 7 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 5 Linnets, 4 Grey Wagtails and a Siskin.

The only grounded migrants we had were 3 Goldcrests and we ringed one of these. Other birds of interest included a Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

We ringed 18 birds as follows with recaptures in brackets:

Robin - 1
Meadow Pipit - 10
Blue Tit - 1
Linnet - 1
Dunnock - 1 (1)
Chaffinch - 1
Reed Bunting - 1
Greenfinch - 1
Goldcrest - 1

 Goldcrest

Back home I checked my moth trap and this morning I had two moths in the form of a Clouded Drab and an Early Grey.

Clouded Drab

Early Grey