Saturday's scheduled session at Somerford Common had to be postponed because of some unforecast rain. Being around on Monday, with the weather looking better, if a bit windy, I decided to see what was about. I hate to say it, but the most interesting sighting of the whole morning was my first. As I arrived to set my nets, I noticed this large, black (it was dark), almost triangular, shape alongside an oak tree about 20m ahead of my net ride: I had never noticed anything there before. As I looked, I realised it was a Wallaby. One has been reported by a few people but it was still an exciting find. It was clearly not bothered by my presence: it didn't move, even when I started hammering pegs into the ground, for a good 20 minutes.
The ringing was consistent, if not spectacular. Highlights were: a third Redwing for the autumn; a juvenile female Great Spotted Woodpecker; another 18 Goldcrests ringed and one retrapped and, finally, the arrival of some Long-tailed Tits after a very poor showing so far this year. Of course, the bulk of the Titmice arrived as I was closing the nets to pack up for the day, delaying my departure just long enough for me to get caught in the rain. The list was: Great Spotted Woodpecker 1; Blue Tit 5(2); Great Tit 2(1); Coal Tit 1; Marsh Tit (1); Long-tailed Tit 8(6); Wren 4; Robin 5(1); Redwing 1; Song Thrush 1; Blackbird 2(1); Goldcrest 18(1); Bullfinch 1(2). Totals: 49 ringed from 12 species; 15 retrapped from 8 species, making 64 processed from 13 species.
As I was driving home I had to hammer on the brakes to avoid running over a Buzzard. It was sat on the road feeding on some carrion and they really cannot take off fast enough to play that game. ST