Pale Tussock moth caterpillar

This Pale Tussock moth caterpillar was found by Paul today whilst out on a net round! It had almost made its way into one of the bird bags!

The weather was perfect for a ringing day being quite still and often overcast. Birders visiting the reserve sometimes fail to spot the 'little brown jobs' but today produced quite a variety showing just what is around if time is taken to look carefully. No less than 296 birds ( 212 of them unringed) of 21 species were caught and processed by quite a novice team. Of these 84 were first year Lesser Redpolls so it seems they have had quite a successful breeding season.

Blackcap and Chiffchaff were still passing through and some of the young Bullfinches appeared as if just out of the nest with no adult plumage whatsoever. This year alone 194 new Bullfinches have been ringed on the reserve.