Broomfield Winter CES Visit 2 - Sunday 17 November

On Sunday, we visited Broomfield College for our second Winter CES session. We set up our
usual nets in a copse baited with seed and fat balls. Outside the copse, we set up two areas
for Redwing and one net in an orchard for Fieldfare and other thrushes.

After the success of the first visit where we caught 40 Redwing, this week was rather
underwhelming with a total catch of only 20 birds of 8 species, including 8 retraps. The highlight
was an adult female Kestrel. One positive was the orchard site and mixed thrush tape seemed
to be working well to attract Blackbirds, with 4 caught and many more flushed from the bushes
each net round, it looks promising for future visits in colder weather.

In an effort to pass the time, an additional net was set up along a hedgerow to target finches, as
were four spring traps, but these only produced a single Robin. Overall the morning was
extremely quiet with very little sign of any birds around at all, including on the feeders.

Totals for the morning were: Blackbird 4, Robin 4, Dunnock 3, Blue Tit 3, Great Tit 2, Redwing
2, Chaffinch 1, Kestrel 1.

Christine made Anzac biscuits and they certainly set the bar high on the biscuit front. If I only
ever eat one biscuit ever again I would like it to be these.

Holly

Blackbirds

Kestrel