Ringing this weekend at Brackenhurst & Granby, 11/12 January

 Frosty dawn and Granby (JL)

A rare occurrence this winter, mist-netting two days in a row. As weather looked set fare, we ringed both Brack and Granby this weekend. Both sessions had 50 odd birds. After the 100 last weekend at Brack, I would have expected more. Particularly Yellowhammers at Granby, but only starting to bait there last month may have impacted on their attendance at the feeders. Nearly all the Group attended one of the sessions. We finished both promptly at midday; Brack because of the westerly winds building up and at Granby because the birds dropped right off.

It highlights the decline of some UK species, when the star birds caught are Greenfinch and Song Thrush. One time Greenfinch would have been one of the most common birds ringed by the Group. Times change.

Of the retraps, the most notable were a Brack Blue Tit from 2008, Granby had Great and Blue Tits that were both ringed on 16/11/2008 and Dunnocks from 2010 and 2011. The oldest bird was a seven year old Blue Tit at Granby (UK longevity record is nine years).

Brackenhurst totals for individual species ringed/retrapped (23/33): Dunnock 0/2, Robin 1/0, Blackbird 1/0, Redwing 1/0, Goldcrest 0/1, Blue Tit 3/10, Great Tit 2/7, Greenfinch 1/0, Tree Sparrow 5/0, Chaffinch 2/1, Yellowhammer 7/12.

Granby totals for individual species ringed/retrapped (40/14): Wren 2/1, Dunnock 3/4, Robin 1/2, Song Thrush 1/0, Blue Tit 15/3, Great Tit 9/4, Chaffinch 7/0, Yellowhammer 2/0.

Jim