This morning being calm, Tony and Leigh invited me to join them at Spernal STW for another ringing session.
They caught 18 birds of nine species, including re-traps. This was a little fewer than last week, but there was some quality. Although I could hear at least three Cetti's Warblers, my highlight was being able to see one in the hand.
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| Cetti's Warbler |
For the most part the birds on view, or at least heard, were about the same as last week. Three Mandarins flew over, and at least 30 Teal were on site, many taking refuge on the circular tanks towards the centre of the works. A Water Rail was calling again, but this time I didn't see it.
I was on hand when a female Siskin was ringed, but I mostly did my own thing.
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| Siskin |
Fly overs included single Redpoll and Meadow Pipit, while at least two Chiffchaffs were singing.
As I was pulling off my wellies prior to departure there was a bit of a kerfuffle overhead and five Herring Gulls turned out to be mobbing a couple of Little Egrets.
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| Little Egrets and Herring Gulls |
The numbers in brackets refer to retraps of birds caught previously.
After breakfast at home I decided to head off to Morton Bagot for a quick circuit. The Avocets were reduced to four, but the pair of Shelduck had returned. A Red Kite glided over the edge of the flash field causing all the Teal to gather in the centre of the nearest flash, something I've noticed they do when an unfamiliar raptor turns up. The upshot was that I managed a higher than usual count of 66 Teal as well as 24 Lapwings and a Green Sandpiper.
I was on a bit of a mission to try to add a few species which have been conspicuous by their absence this year. Worryingly there are still no Coot on site and I'm wondering if they will be the latest bird to abandon us. There are still no Tufted Ducks either, but a quick diversion to the road below Bannams brought me a singing Coal Tit at last.
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