First Bird Ringing of 2015

Although not a month past the shortest day, the time of arrival for the bird ringers is already getting earlier!  It was bitterly cold this morning but that did not stop there being activity.  Mallard and Moorhen could be heard calling on the Lake.  A Buzzard was mewing and seen flying overhead.  The Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming.  Flying in their characteristic 'V' shape, Greylag Geese headed out towards the training area.

Jays have been seen feeding in the back garden and during the day two were returned to the ringing room including this first year bird.

Not many Lesser Redpolls have been spotted on the reserve so far this winter but they made an appearance today.

Redwings have been feeding amongst various berries, mainly Holly and Hawthorn. When one was brought into the ringing room, a photograph was called for.  As always the welfare of the birds is paramount, but there is no other way to describe this bird's expression other than 'grumpy'!

It was very pleasing to see some Great Tits, ringed in the next boxes during 2013 and 2014, come through the ringing room.   Many of the birds processed today were last year's young, but there were adults of two, three or four years old.  In total 172 birds were processed, including Blackbird, Greenfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting and Nuthatch. 

It was not quite sunset when the bird ringers left this afternoon, but the sun was going down.

Thank you to everyone who helped during the day.