North Wilts Group

28th October 2017 - Savernake area

This is the site where the Willow Tits nested in our box for the past two summers and I am keen to know who is nesting with who, how long they live and how Willow Tits disperse around the Kennet valley. I set up one small temporary feeding station and we only put up a couple of nets as a result.

The forecast was odd predicting sunny, calm at first and then wind later but the wind shouldn't affect us as the site is very sheltered. Just as we were taking birds out of the nets the sky went grey and a fine mist-like rain drifted in and just as I was thinking we should take down the sky went blue and it was lovely warm and sunny. Just as we were enjoying the weather, the wind did get up in the tree tops and leaves proceeded to fill our nets.

In the first round we did indeed catch two Willow Tits, one was an adult and one was a first year and as far as I was concerned that was the job done. We caught more birds than I had expected with Coal Tits again being the dominant species. We caught and ringed a Siskin which is an unusual catch for us.

Last action of the morning was a pleasant surprise with two Jays sat side by side in the net. Jay was a long overdue new bird for Paul to ring and he has waited four years for this, Phil on the other hand only had to wait a few months! MP, PW, TL, PDU

Willow Tit 2, Marsh Tit 1, Coal Tit 37, Blue Tit 24 (2), Great Tit 7, Goldcrest 17, Nuthatch 2, Treecreeper 4, Siskin 1, Chaffinch 7, Robin 4, Wren 1, Jay 2

Jay

Wilti