It's been quite an eventful morning. Tony had tipped me off that he would be ringing at Morton Bagot, so I made sure I was early. There was quite a gathering around his nets where the aim had been to catch Meadow Pipits.
Unfortunately the Pipits were not co-operating, although a small number trickled past overhead, along with at least 11 Swallows, and at least 17 Redpolls. I decided to check out the flash field, but found it just contained the usual fare; 37 Teal, 14 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and 20 Mallard.
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| Some of the Snipe were closer to the viewing point than usual |
As I returned to the ringers events took a turn for the better. They were just about within hailing distance as a Crossbill flew over calling. I bellowed and pointed as it practically flew over their heads, and I think most of them managed to see the bird.
During a break one of the ringers, Ischia Turk, mentioned she had rescued a Manx Shearwater. Where was it? In a car park at Droitwich. The discovery was made by her dad on September 18, and realising what it was from the photo he had sent her, Ischia attended immediately and eventually found the stricken bird. She has kindly shared her dad's photo of it.
Ischia took the bird to Vale Wildlife Rescue, from where it was later taken for release on the Severn Estuary. Amazingly it was apparently the third they'd had brought in that week.
I'm off to to the nearest municipal car-park to do some seawatching.
PS: I've heard from Tony that after I left they went on to ring 27 Redpolls and two Meadow Pipits. So its already looking like it could be a good redpoll autumn.
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