Tuesday 1 November 2016

Roosting Wagtails

Yesterday afternoon Ian, Tony and Me set a few nets up in the reedbed with the aim of intercepting some Pied Wagtails as they flew to roost. The weather was perfect for the job with 4 oktas hazy cloud and a light northerly breeze. MP3 players were switched on and we sat back and waited.

A male Stonechat made an appearance and as the afternoon headed towards dusk we were serenaded by Cetti's Warblers. As the Starlings gathered for their roost a male and female Sparrowhawk appeared intent on some supper, but I didn't see any successful sorties from the pair.

The Pied Wagtails started to arrive, perhaps about eighty, and they started dropping down to the nets. We managed to ring 17 plus a Great Tit, two Greenfinches and four Long-tailed Tits.

 Pied Wagtail

This morning I called at my feeding station on the Moss and carried out another feeding visit. Tree Sparrows are still slowly increasing in numbers and I had thirty. Other bits and pieces included four Goldcrests, a Reed Bunting, five Song Thrushes and nine Teal.

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