A Very Cold Day

Monday, December 19th 2011

The moon was still to set as the bird ringers met at a very cold frosty Foxglove at 0830.  This is the latest time of arrival and after the 21st December those lie ins get less! 

Moon over the conifers

It was bitterly cold and ice had formed over part of the lake.

Ice on the lake

A few weeks ago the lichen cups were filled with droplets of water, today the droplets had turned to ice.

Frozen droplet of water in lichen cup

Water droplets on the grass had also frozen and then the frost covered them.

Frosted grass

Some young visitors from Plymouth enjoyed their time in the ringing room and released several birds.  The last bird they released was a very reluctant Blackbird who seemed more than happy to remain in a warm hand! 

Releasing a Blackbird

Releasing a Blackbird

Many of the birds processed today were retraps but there were several new Blackbirds and Siskins included in the total of 165 birds caught. A brief look at the ringing records during the day for 2011, and there are many more yet to be entered, shows that 10,500 birds have been processed this year so far with 7,500 of them new birds.

The day ended as it had begun, very cold and frosty, but it was an all male team today…..so we struggled!


(0) Comments:

There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:


Leave a Comment:

Please complete this field, it's required. Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?


Back to Top

Help Support Foxglove

Friends of Foxglove

The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.

More Details

Upcoming Events


Reserve Access: Open

Wednesday 4th June 2025 |

Access is currently as normal and the reserve and field centre are open as usual.



June Wellbeing Wander

Friday 20th June 2025 | 2pm-3pm

Join us on a nature-based wellbeing walk around the reserve.

Having a sense of place and connectedness, being grounded is important for our general wellbeing and mental health. This is an invitation to pause and explore what being in nature can offer you.

Enjoy an afternoon of wellbeing starting with some mind awareness followed by a gentle walk where you get to listen, smell and watch what is around you and connect with any feelings which arise.

Bookings close 19th June.

For more information and to book your place, visit Foxglove Covert's Eventbrite pagefoxglovecovertlnr.eventbrite.com 



VIEW ALL EVENTS

Recent Blog Posts

Blog Archive