The Prediction

Yesterday, we hinted that there could be more Blue Tits on their way. This afternoon we were proved right! After a relatively slow start (30 or so birds) we were slowly pushed to the limit by Blue Tits appearing everywhere. We lost our nerve and closed many nets; just in time as a "Blue-blanket" swept through the garden very low for about 5 minutes, probably 1000 birds moved through. During the next 2 hours my notebook reads 3000+ Blue Tits. Large flocks drifted over the garden before turning round and heading inland, they'll be back tomorrow no doubt. Today then we suffered 212 Blue Tits plus 40 other birds, of note 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Redpoll and 1 Blackcap. We also "Controlled" 2 Swedish ringed birds, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Great Tit. Below is a picture of a Redpoll, juvenile male.

Redpoll -Carduelis caberet

We were joined at ringing today by Nicholas and Clausjannic, both are training to ring and enjoyed their experience today. Clausjannic also began filming the day's work at Gedser.

Migration was heavy today with many finches passing low over the garden. Highlights were 8 Bullfinch, 2 Hawfinch and 14 Crossbill. Chafflings were into the 1000's and Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Siskin all in their hundreds. JAYS HAD A MASSIVE PUSH TODAY WITH OVER 150 MIGRATING

Photo and Blog: Craig Brookes

Continued Emptiness

The title sums it up, unfortunately. I had nets open for a little over 6 hours today and caught 8 Birds, 4 newly ringed and 4 Recaptures.

3 Robins and a Goldcrest were new.
A couple of each Robin and Blackbird recaptures.

Sightings include 2 Woodcock, a few Rough-legged Buzzards, a few Sparrowhawks, still Bullfinches and Yellowhammers go over in noticable numbers and a small flock of Redpolls today was the first "proper flock" to be in the garden.

Craig Brookes

Empty Easterlies

This morning a brisk wind gripped the garden. The hedges swayed in the wind. A limited amounts of nets were opened and dawn broke. It was then clear there had been a clear-out. Throughout the day only 5 birds were caught in 10 hours of netting. These were 3 Robins (Erithacus rubecula), 1 Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), 1 Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus c. collybita) and 1 Sparrowhawk  (Accipiter nisus.) Only one recapture from recent days was represented by a Robin.

Sightings included a few Crossbills, Yellowhammers and Bullfinches. Raptors represented by a Red Kite, a Buzzard, a Rough-legged Buzzard, few Sparrowhawks and a young White-tailed Eagle.

Reports of Pygmy Owl's in Northern Denmark are becomming promising and hopefully we can catch one soon.

Craig Brookes

A Little late

I woke late this morning having slept right through all of my alarms - Quite impressive. The nets were set then and it was clear that not many birds were around. 22 birds were caught in total.

14 Robins, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Sightings again included Red Kites, Rough Legged Buzzards, Buzzards, a Kestrel, notably few Sparrowhawks, a few more Yellowhammers and Bullfinches. 2 Highlighs today include a Long-Eared Owl in the Garden and a flock of 14 Waxwings which I heard as they headed out over the sea and turned around due to bad conditions. I played the call of Waxwing and they did respond by landing in the tree directly next to the speaker but the net billowed in the wind and so the birds didn't fancy sitting in it.

Craig Brookes.

Wrong winds

The wind stopped any full attempt at ringing today as dawn broke, however I managed to get a few nets up late morning and caught a few birds.

4 Robins, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Redpoll (caberet and flammea) and a lone Blackbird.

As I was setting nets I flushed a Long-eared owl, later on I possibly flushed a different individual. Other sightings today include: a Serin (probably yesterday's bird), no fewer than 10 Red Kites, 25+ Rough-legged Buzzards, 25+ Sparrowhawk. There was also quite a movement of Yellowhammer and Bullfinch with at least 30 of each. The Bullfinches seem to be mixing with flocks of Chaffinch and Brambling. A juvenile Little gull was seen late afternoon.

I will try to catch Owls this evening. I'll update on this in tomorrow's post.


Craig Brookes