Ringing at Kelmarsh

Hello

With a change in the weather with much milder conditions and a fresh breeze, we decided on a change of venue for bird ringing today. So it was that we found ourselves at Kelmarsh Hall this morning which is a more sheltered environment than Harrington Airfield.

Here a single sixty foot mist net was sufficient to successfully catch eighty-five individuals made up of both migrant and resident birds. Nineteen Blackbirds included only one re-trapped individual and other thrushes included three new Fieldfares and six Redwings. Blue Tits were numerous with thirty-three caught, supported by fifteen Great Tits, a Coal Tit, two Robins, a Dunnock, a Bullfinch, a Greenfinch and three Goldfinches. One of the first year Blue Tits originated from Pitsford Reservoir.

Other birds noted on-site included a Raven, a small flock of Siskins, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird.
Image courtesy of
Cathy Ryden.

First year male Blackbird.
Image courtesy of Eleanor.

Redwings are reportedly in the UK
in large numbers, but there are plenty
of other thrushes too including plenty
of migrant Blackbirds joining the
 resident birds.