The forecast was extremely dodgy with rain forecast at 0600 but potentially no rain after 9, so we opted to go for it and take the risk of sitting there and then driving home. I was joined by Simon, Anna and Biff with the latter two enjoying a visit to this private woodland site for the first time. This is a special site because it still has Willow Tits but even here in their last stronghold in southern Britain they are declining.
We set 7 nets at feeders and in likely looking spots and with the first round done it started to rain. We made the decision to close and as soon as we closed, the rain stopped and we carried on on what turned out to be a windless overcast day. The morning turned out to be a great training session for the more subtle points of ageing and sexing and I definitely sensed the team making some progress. Anna and Biff ringed their first Coal Tits, and Biff filled his boots with his first Nuthatch and Marsh Tit. Goldcrests dominated the catch at this site like they always do but very sadly we did not catch a Willow Tit and in fact probably for the first time ever in this woodland I did not even hear a Willow Tit.
We then went to a nearby farm to collect half a tonne of barley which we took to another farm ready for feeding farmland birds.
We then went to our favourite site, Swindon STW and set a net for Pied Wagtails and a triple net for Redwing. We had a look round to review and plan our ongoing conservation management work and counted a season high count of 20 Snipe and a Jack Snipe. Water Rails appeared to be everywhere. We ringed two Chiffchaffs, one a standard colybita and the other a rather pale Abietinus type. The Pied Wagtail net failed completely but the Redwing net got nine which sounds okay but there were probably 200 present.
The day total of 93 new and 7 retraps was pretty respectable for the time of year. All in all this was a great day and we loved every minute. MP, SW, AM, AF
Goldcrest 35 (1), Coal Tit 13, Blue Tit 14 (3), Great Tit 3, Marsh Tit 1 (1), Nuthatch 1, Wren 6, Robin 2 (1), Dunnock 2, Blackbird 2 (1), Redwing 9, Chiffchaff 2