12/01 Bagnor Feeder

Location: Bagnor Feeder CES 2023/24.05.

Session: 12/01/2024 07:45 to 11:40hrs

Notes: CES visit four missed at this feeder, either the weather was unsuitable, or days clashed with other commitments, We have been trying to do visit 5 since the 29th Dec 2023 but have been thwarted first by the heavy rains, then by temperatures being at or below 0degC when ringing would put the wellbeing of the birds at risk. Today was the last day of the period and fortunately the temperature was around 4degC and above. It was a very busy session with exceptional numbers of Blue Tit again. A look at the schedule below shows that the numbers  this session are considerably higher than previous matching visits, it is the same at the other CES feeder at Snelsmore Common. They are almost all 1st winter birds showing that post fledging survival most be pretty good. Quite a few re-traps had been ringed at nearby nest box schemes mostly at Mount Hill on the Bagnor Estate. Great Tit numbers seem to be similar to previous matching visits. It was good to ring a few Greenfinch and Goldfinch also the even scarcer Chaffinch.

Present: JL,IW.

Weather: overcast, light breeze, cold.

Nets: 12M of nets, 6M each side of the feeders up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs.

Lures: Feeders with Peanuts, Sunflower Hearts, Niger, Fat Balls.

Recaptures:(21)        note box prefixes CP and WH Snelsmore Common, others Bagnor Est Mount Hill

Blue Tit                ringed: 09/11/2022, 07/11/2023, 21/11/2023x4, 15/12/2023x3

                            pulli ringed: 20/05/2023-WH13, 26/05/2023x6-A01-A03-C03x2-D03-D11.  

Great Tit              ringed: 15/12/2023x2

                            pulli ringed: 20/05/2022-A01

Sighting: We were too busy to do much watching. The Great White Egret almost slipped by in the merk before we realised it was a bit large for a Little Egret, managed to get a light coloured bill and no yellow feet before it disappeared heading north. The Mallard and a second Little Egret we saw in the village when leaving also the Mute Swans, they were grazing on the flood water that still encroached on to the road in places; the Lambourn and Winterbourne rivers are still very high and fast flowing. Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Coal Tit were heard only, there may have been more than one.