What A Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday as some of the bird ringers were busy checking the net rides ready for CES, the back garden feeders were full of Redpolls and Siskin.  So today we were hopeful of catching more Redpoll but it appears that they have dispersed overnight, as we only caught two and there were none on the usual feeders.  Brambling are still on the move and some had built up fat ready for their migration, which we anticipate will be tonight.  Most of those ringed were males.  

Chiffchaffs have been on the reserve for a couple of weeks but the Willow Warblers are more recent arrivals.  We speculated that one weighing in at 7.7g had just arrived, after its long journey north, whilst one weighing in at 9.2g had been here for a few days and had fed well to replenish its fat.  Several of the Willow Warblers processed had been ringed at Foxglove in previous years.  (Thanks to Charlie for this photograph.)

First thing this morning it was totally still and Spigot Mere was like a mirror, reflecting everything around it.

At the same time, the lake looked rather forbidding.

Late afternoon saw sunlight on the water.

 Thank you to all the bird ringing volunteers who helped throughout the day.