Session: 27-Nov-2018 08:15 to
09:45hrs
Notes: I wasn’t sure whether
to ring or not today, conditions looked iffy, and heavy rain was forecast for
mid-morning. First, I drove up to the carpark to see what weather conditions were
like, it was windy and cold. Next, I drove round and walked out to the
enclosure, still cold but not quite as windy. Decided, as I was here, to put a
net up and see. As it was not that affected by the breeze, I put the remaining
nets up. Ian, anticipating that I would ring, arrived just as I sent a text. Glad
we made the effort, as we captured two of the many Redwings and Fieldfares
that dropped, out of the murk, in and around the nets for the next hour or
so. Should have got more, given the numbers that arrived, but something can't be quite right with the setup. Three Goldcrests and the Blue Tit is
perhaps expected, but not the Chiffchaff. We checked its plumage closely, but
it was a Common Chiffchaff; one day hopefully it will be something more
exciting!
I think sometimes us birders don’t appreciate how little some people know about birds. We had two enquiries as to what we were doing, both from people who have walked by us several times in the past. First a chap asked was the bird song because we were feeding the birds. When we said we had just ringed a thrush, probably from Scandinavia. “How did we know” he said, “was it already ringed?” When we explained that it was a Redwing, a species that doesn’t breed here. He didn’t seem to know that birds were other than local. Later a group of four people that we had seen often stopped and one said, “could they ask a question”. “No”, I said with a smile. “you’ve been here lots recently and we wondered what you’re doing” they said. I showed them the Chiffchaff and explained how we separate it from other small warblers. When I first started ringing on the common, I saw the inevitable contact with the public as a downside. Now I quite enjoy it, even the occasional hostile encounter. A few sessions back a lady was quite concerned as to what we were doing to the birds. After we explained, she still didn’t seem that convinced. However, she went away happy when we showed her a Firecrest, a species she had never heard of, she photographed it to show family and friends.
Looking at the weather forecast, for the next few days, this is probably the last “regular” visit to the Western Enclosure; I usually stop week 48; the last week in November and apart from the occasional visit will not expect to visit until next June; will we get there?
Weather: I think sometimes us birders don’t appreciate how little some people know about birds. We had two enquiries as to what we were doing, both from people who have walked by us several times in the past. First a chap asked was the bird song because we were feeding the birds. When we said we had just ringed a thrush, probably from Scandinavia. “How did we know” he said, “was it already ringed?” When we explained that it was a Redwing, a species that doesn’t breed here. He didn’t seem to know that birds were other than local. Later a group of four people that we had seen often stopped and one said, “could they ask a question”. “No”, I said with a smile. “you’ve been here lots recently and we wondered what you’re doing” they said. I showed them the Chiffchaff and explained how we separate it from other small warblers. When I first started ringing on the common, I saw the inevitable contact with the public as a downside. Now I quite enjoy it, even the occasional hostile encounter. A few sessions back a lady was quite concerned as to what we were doing to the birds. After we explained, she still didn’t seem that convinced. However, she went away happy when we showed her a Firecrest, a species she had never heard of, she photographed it to show family and friends.
Looking at the weather forecast, for the next few days, this is probably the last “regular” visit to the Western Enclosure; I usually stop week 48; the last week in November and apart from the occasional visit will not expect to visit until next June; will we get there?
Present:
Nets:
Lure (audio):
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Sightings 23 Species: Ian’s list, apart from the winter thrushes nothing unexpected, some finch species regulars not seen though.
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