Gedling Country Park, Saturday 15 November

After a few sessions attempting to catch Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings on the open habitat near the solar farm, I returned to the western side of the park to try for Redwing and Redpoll. School run duties meant that a later start was made, so I was surprised that I managed to catch a few Redwing on the first round, and it looked promising with lots of birds around, but unfortunately no more found the net. It was a similar story with the Redpoll, an extended net ride from the summer set-up had Redpoll calls playing but failed to attract anything. In a bid of desperation, I put the trusty Lotti/Phyllosc/Crest tape on and was rewarded with a few Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest, along with a Coal Tit - a new species for the site.

I had thought it unusual no Blue Tits had been caught. I was just thinking of packing up when the net playing Goldcrest call attracted a flock of 20 birds, 12 of which were Blue Tit. That made my session a little longer than I'd planned!

A shame the target species weren't more numerous (only 4 Redpoll were noted during the morning), but it was pleasant to end on 39 birds, made up of the following (New/Retrap): Long-tailed Tit 10/5, Blue Tit 12/0, Great Tit 2/2, Goldcrest 4/0, Redwing 3/0, Coal Tit 1/0.

Tom

Redwing

Goldcrest

Coal Tit