24/12 Snelsmore Common Feeder

Location: Snelsmore Feeder visit 04 of 10
Session: 24-Dec-2017 07:45 to 11:20hrs

Headlines: We had a couple of Xmas refugees from the Gower Group with us today. A disappointing 4th visit the second lowest in the 10 year life of this feeder. Looks like Blue Tit and Coal Tit didn’t visit in the usual numbers. Many of these species could be seen feeding high in the trees probably on swelling buds due to the mild weather. No pulli captured this visit either. A Blue Tit ringed at the Bagnor Feeder late November was probably the most interesting recapture and possibly the two Great Tits ringed the same day around a year ago. Two ring-able Chaffinch captured as a result of the (extra) outer net and no sign of “grotty foot” on either. All feeders have had a visit 04 of 10 this winter. Although this visit was not a good as expected overall numbers are up on the 2016/17 season so far. The recent dip in numbers and lower take up of food coincided with the mild weather and fewer Blue Tits in particular coming to the all the feeders. Colder weather is forecast at the turn of the year so we expect numbers to pick up.

Now for the new year, have a happy one

Weather: Over cast, light breezy, cool.
Present: JL, IW, JHW, SHV, KAF, DL
Nets: 24metres, two 6m nets one each side of feeder and a 24m about 8metres west of feeder up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs

Lure (feeders): fat balls, niger, black sunflower, peanuts

Capture (New/Recapture)

30(15/15) visit 4 of 10	64(40/24) 2016 visit 4 of 10 (28-Dec)
Species New Rtp 1stCY 2ndCY+ BLABI 1 1 BLUTI 7 5 12 CHAFF 2 1 1 COATI 3 1 2 GRETI 5 7 7 5	Species New Rtp 1stCY 2ndCY+ BLUTI 19 13 20 12 COATI 15 5 17 3 GRETI 5 6 10 1 NUTHA 1 1

Totals for visit 04 of 10 for the last 10 winter periods

2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16	2016/17	2017/18
60	62	87	60	25	80	54	62	64	30

Recaptures: (15) mostly recent except:
Coal Tit 1y 299d
Great Tit 2y 46d and two others both 1y 31d

Sightings 19 Species: Ian’s list indicating not much about; not all tits high in trees counted.