Broomfield - Saturday 20 December

This weekend we carried out our sixth visit, this was an additional visit not part of the winter CES. It was a slightly frosty start but then fog came down and hung around for most of the morning. We had a good sized team out and put up three extra nets. We caught 70 birds throughout the morning. Of these, 32 were retraps, the same number as last week. Interestingly one Blue Tit had been ringed on our first ever visit in November 2023 and not caught again until this weekend. Other highlights from the morning included 24 Long-tailed Tits, the first Goldfinch of the winter and 7 Redwings. Tawny Owls were heard calling when we arrived on site. 

Happy Christmas!

Kev

Broomfield Winter CES Visit 4 - Saturday 13 December

This weekend we carried out our fourth visit for this season’s winter CES, fifth visit including non-CES visits. It was a frosty start but soon warmed up when the sun came up. We caught 60 birds throughout the morning. Of these, 32 were retraps, including some which had been ringed in the previous two winters at the site - but the best bird was a Blackbird that was wearing a Dutch ring. Other highlights from the morning included a retrap Nuthatch, 5 Redwings and 3 Coal Tits. 

Kev

Redwings (Alex Underwood)

 

Broomfield Winter CES Visit 3 - Sunday 30 December

This weekend marked our third visit for this season’s winter CES, with Alex and I organising the session. We caught 47 birds in total throughout the morning. Of these, 20 were retraps, including some which we had previously ringed in previous years at the site – this is effective data in demonstrating the longevity and survival of individual birds. Highlights from the morning included two retrap Nuthatches, six Blackbirds, one Coal Tit, and one Blackcap. The Blackcap (pictured) is a first for the site and demonstrates that they are increasingly spending winters here instead of migrating down to southern Europe.

Totals comprised: 17 Blue Tits, 11 Great Tits, 5 Long-Tailed Tits, 6 Blackbirds, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Coal Tit, and 1 Blackcap.

Josh