Summer is turning; the creeping thistles are ripe and ready for the 'King Harry's' to strip out. Mind you, a few have already been given some thought!
Started off the first half of the Priory CES with 7 birds of 7 species. Grim. A bit better in the second half (needed to be!) with 12 birds of 10 species, ending up with 19 birds of 12 species. This compares favourably with the other CES at The Thorns which had just 26 birds using 50% more netting!
The autumn fruits are beginning to ripen; a few blackberries are ready to be taken.
The Elderberries, of which we have many on this sub-site, are ever so slowly turning red. It will be a while yet before they are deep purple and ready to be eaten.
The Teasels, on the other hand, will be ready for our Goldfinches before the last of the Thistles are stripped.
Which brings us back to the birds we caught and ringed today.
Great Tit (1)
Chiffchaff 2
Willow Warbler 1 - our 3rd of the year!
Blackcap 2 (1) -
C.Whitethroat 2 (1) - all in some stage of moult
Reed Warbler 1
Treecreeper 1 - the first of the season
Wren 2
Blackbird 1 - a new male
Robin 1 - not quite 'Xmas card' yet.
Dunnock 2
Goldfinch 1 - our first youngster of 2010
An extra 60' net that was set in an adjoining sub-site yielded another 5 birds -
Gt. Tit (2)
Chiffchaff 1 (1)
Chaffinch (1)
What will next weekend bring? A few passage birds, perhaps?
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