Winter Spring

The starts are getting earlier for the bird ringers as they head towards the 30th year of CES.  Several cars were waiting at the gate at 6am.  The sun was rising and it was cool.  Spring has not sprung in the Scrapes.

It was not long before the first birds were returned to the ringing room.  A female Brambling.  The second Brambling caught was also a female.  We wondered if the males had made a start on their long journey north, with the females following a little later.  Another hand in the bag and out came a Chiffchaff.  They have been heard all round the reserve but not one had made it to the nets until now. 

Another Chiff appeared and it had some messy looking feathers.  These are a result of it feeding on Mimosa and Acacia flowers on its journey north.

A male and female Blackcap were ringed.  We thought they were likely to be a pair so they were released together.

Although the vegetation in many areas around the reserve still looks very wintery, at ground level spring has definitely sprung, joining the spring migrants return.  Primroses have opened their butter yellow flowers everywhere.

In the sunshine a tiny hoverfly was feeding from a Marsh Marigold.

The wind increased and by lunch time the nets were taken down.   Thank you to everyone who volunteered today, a real team effort.