All the Firsts

The first day of a new decade and our first event of the year, a New Year's Day Walk.  Our route took in Risedale Beck, the lake, Sycamore Avenue and then across the moor, before heading back to the Field Centre for a cup of tea.  We walked along the felled conifers and spotted what we thought were yellow leaves near the top of the hill, but had to go and investigate and the yellow leaves were indeed yellow, not leaves but petals of Primrose.  A first flower to be put onto the January observation board and the first flower in that area. 

Usually when we find Primrose in flower this early in the year there is only one flower, but there were several and more clumps full of buds. 

We also recorded the first female Hazel flower.  A Treecreeper was spotted and later in the ringing room two were processed.

Some members of the ringing team opened the garden nets for the first time this year and 128 birds were processed.  It is always interesting to look at the species caught.  Twenty two new siskin were ringed.  Only one Chaffinch was caught, after the garden was full of them towards the end of last week.  One of the Blue Tits retrapped was initially ringed in 2013.  Long-tailed Tits also made an appearance in the ringing room.

It was a beautiful day for the walk and perfect for ringing.  Thank you to all the volunteers who helped and supported Foxglove today.

Down on Salisbury Plain,

Jack, another member of the Swaledale Bird Ringing Group, has also been ringing.  He ringed some Linnets.