Brackenhurst, Tuesday 8 November

An okay start to the winter's ringing at Brackenhurst today on a nice frosty, clear and bright morning. Kev and I, plus new ringer Erin Cubitt, got down to the feeders before first light with the intention of netting some thrushes in Orwin's. This just about worked with one Redwing ringed.

We processed 22 birds, but nearly all of those were caught before 09:00am, and we took nets down at 11:00am. Still it was nice to catch up with Kev and meet Erin.

Totals were 22 birds (18 new/4 retrap): Dunnock 1/1, Robin 1/1, Redwing 1/0, Goldcrest 4/0, Long-tailed Tit 4/1, Great Tit 3/1, House Sparrow 1/0, Chaffinch 3/0.


No Blue Tits were caught, perhaps confirming their poor breeding season. The best of the retraps was a Great Tit captured for the 13th time since 2012 and a 2013 Robin. Star bird was a House Sparrow, because we are PIT tagging them as part of a NTU project, and it was the first to have its tag fitted.

Jim