Dunnocks!

After a flat calm, cloudless night there was a decent frost covering the ground first thing but this led to perfect mist-netting conditions in the morning especially as high cloud moved in early on; ringing improved once again with 50 new birds caught including two more Firecrests in amongst 7 Goldcrests, two Chiffchaffs and an influx of 20+ Dunnocks (16 trapped).  
   Dunnocks are another species that many UK birders see as a common resident 'garden bird' and don't get to see them in full migration mode!   I'm kind of used to them after spending several years in Shetland and Orkney where they generally only occur as Scandinavian bound passage migrants but enjoyed immensely the sight of a group of six birds hopping to the top of a high bush, calling loudly to each other then launching themselves off high to the north - a fascinating view of a different aspect of their lifestyle that we don't often seen back in Britain!

Linnet and Siskin from today

 

Other observations through the day were limited but there were two Woodcocks in the garden at dawn, two Sandwich Terns which flew along the shore, a trickle of Bramblings, Goldfinches and Siskins going north, a Mistle Thrush passing while 11 White-fronted and 60 Barnacle Geese were the only wildfowl of note.

Goldcrest and Firecrest - which is better?!