Weekend Round up

I was glad to be back ringing after worrying about my Grandma after a rather big operation (she is much better now).  I am sure you will all send her lots of get well soon wishes.

Ringing Session

The day started off reasonable taking out about eight to ten birds after the first net rounds; some more Redwings and Fieldfare added to our Autumn numbers with our 100th Redwing of the Autumn being ringed over the weekend. 

However, as the day pushed on it slowed down a bit, perhaps as it was a bit warmer, with not as many birds being caught compared to the last few weeks. However,  the second Tree-creeper for the site and a well plumaged female Great Spotted Woodpecker added some additional interest. 

Only me Moxey and Peter were out today which meant I got to do a lot of the ringing and processing of the birds, which gave me a good opportunity to get to know more of the aging of some of the bird species we caught.  

Garden  Birds

I have been getting a lot of birds in the garden lately with a flock of about 100 plus Goldfinch and around 50 plus Greenfinch devouring half of all the sunflower hearts from my three large sunflower heart feeders, I am going through at least a ton a week, well nearly that much anyway! 

Of course Goldfinch and Greenfinch aren't new  to the garden; however I have had some new birds coming back for the Winter. A few days ago I was out for a walk at Weaver Park Way and saw a Silver Birch log lying on the floor, I thought it would be great to make it into a fat feeder for my new regularly visiting Great Spotted Woodpecker (currently feeding on nuts), and the Blue Tits and birds like that. They are just starting to get use to it and when I looked out of the window this morning a handsome male Great Spotted Woodpecker was feeding on my new log feeder. I was utterly blown away; the bird wasn't just on my home made feeder it also flew onto my sunflower heart feeder flushing about 30 Goldfinch from it. It was the first time I had seen it on that particular feeder as well.

 The male Sparrowhawk also made a visit for a snack; sitting on my garden shed feasting away a very unlucky Goldfinch. My other new Winter garden birds include Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, two Wrens (both currently roosting behind my shed) and last but not least Fieldfare. This lovely bird seemed interested in the food laid out on my feeding tray.

Marbury Park

On to today; we went to Marbury Country Park and enjoyed watching all the tit mice on the feeders freshly filled up, which was addictive to watch. I spent ages watch them flitting back and to, joined every now and again by this handsome Nuthatch.

All in all a pretty amazing weekend.

Wild Bird Wednesday