Brackenhurst Update

I’ve not made as many visits to the Brackenhurst feeders as I would have liked this winter. A combination of ringer availability, the weather and commitments elsewhere has restricted opportunities. However, here’s an update on recent visits:

Wednesday 20 November Team – Duncan, Kev and myself.

Oldest retraps were a Robin from 2014 & a 2012 Blue Tit.

Birds handled (new/retrap 31/24): Blackbird 3/-, Blue Tit 6/11, Coal Tit 1/1, Goldcrest 1/-, Great Tit 5/10, House Sparrow 3/-, Redwing 9/-, Robin 3/2.

Wednesday 4 December Team – Cliff and myself.

Oldest retrap was a Robin from 2015.

Birds handled (new/retrap 34/18): Blackbird 1/1, Blue Tit 1/6, Bullfinch –/1, Chaffinch 1/1, Fieldfare 1/-, Great Tit -/3, Long-tailed Tit 4/1, Redwing 25/-, Robin –/5, Song Thrush 1/-.

Friday 27 December Team – Pete, Tom and myself.

Oldest retraps were a Robin from 2014 and a 2016 Blue Tit.

Birds handled (new/retrap 34/18): Blackbird 1/-, Blue Tit 4/12, Chaffinch -/1, Coal Tit –/1, Goldcrest –/1, Great Tit 2/8, Redwing 4/-, Robin –/1, Treecreeper –/1, Yellowhammer 2/1.

Tuesday 21 January Team – Kev, Duncan and myself.

Oldest retrap was a Great Tit from 2016.

Birds handled (new/retrap 9/13): Blackbird 1/1, Blue Tit 4/3, Chaffinch -/1, Dunnock 1/2, Great Tit 3/4, Robin –/2, Treecreeper –/1.

Overall – it looks like tits and Robins had a decent breeding season last year and the mild weather means the buntings aren't coming to the feeders.

Jim Lennon

 Redwing, Goldcrest & Treecreeper, Brackenhurst, 27 December 2019 (P Leonard)