Notes: Another relatively quiet session for the last scheduled visit
this winter/spring to this feeder; the food has runout. As with recent visits
the drop in the diversity of species is very apparent compared to last year’s
matching visit. I tried some mixed grain bird food here this week hoping to
attract some finches, but none came while we were there. We are puzzled by the
distinct lack of birds compared to last year and before. On the plus side we
ringed from the scrub nets our first Chiffchaff of the year and a new ringing species
for this site – Cetti’s Warbler, probably disbursing from elsewhere. Singing
Cetti’s Warbler have been recorded here in the past in the scrub just on the
west side of the car park entrance but did not sustain, probably insufficient suitable
habitat.
Sightings: Ian’s list. Surprisingly given it was quite blustery Woodlark only sang briefly just after we arrived. Two Chiffchaffs, squabbling over territory, flew low over us then even lower back between us as we stood by the cars.
