A bit of the other

Up, possibly, before the Lark....or at least before most 'sane' people....a spot of ringing.

I wanted to do some brush cutting round the site today to keep the grass and brambles in check.  Im hoping that by doing this over the next few months will provide lots of edge for invertebrates and assist the Song Thrush population.

Managed to ring a couple of Song Thrush today which is always nice.  A few pyitt pyutts too as well as a Willow Warbler.

Heard my first Cuckoo of the year but didnt see it.  With my home made dummy Cuckoo model I will have another go at luring one to the nets...so heres hoping!

One of my favourite birds, although somewhat noisy in the hand, is Great Spotted Woodpecker.  One turned up today....

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopus major

....a little while later a Green Woodpecker also made an appearance in the net too.  Just need that Lesser Spot now and the three expected species will be in the bag for the year....I wouldnt say no to a passing Wryneck though!

As it was a quiet day and I had completed my task of brush cutting I headed home....which found me with a little time to pop over to Whetsted for a very quick look around....

1000 - 1145 sunny, warm, E f2-4

...and it was a terrifically quick walk of part of the usual route....so no real count as such though numbers are recorded below of the area I did visit.

Typical...a couple of days off visiting and two new warblers arrive...though I had my suspicions I would be greeted by them having heard Reed Warbler near Severn Sisters the other day...

Around the pits:

Chaffinch, Robin, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Wren, Goldfinch, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Green Woodpecker, Crow, Buzzard, Linnet, Skylark, Bullfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Yellowhammer.

Warbler count:

pyitt pyutt 11

Blackcap 7+

Whitethroat 7+

Nightingale 3+

Sedge Warbler 2

On the pits:

Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Mandarin Duck (male), Moorhen, Grey Heron.

All the pits were very quiet today.  The numbers have dropped quite dramatically recently.  All will be revealed on Sunday...WeBS day.  So expect rain or mist!!  Heh heh.