Last Session of the Year and Totals

My last ringing visit to Leith Hill for 2011 this morning certainly saw a definite chill in the air, but produced another 44 new birds which again involved a range of Redpolls.  The most interesting birds though were the three Bullfinch, doubling the 2011 site total, and six Goldfinch, which I had only caught one of previously!  Thanks to Paul Stevenson who joined me this morning.

Otherwise it was fairly quiet with very little else around except the regular flock of c60 Crossbill and a few Redwing.

Birds ringed:
Redwing - 2
Goldcrest - 4
Lesser Redpoll - 4
Common (Mealy) Redpoll - 8
Redpoll sp. - 11
Siskin - 2
Chaffinch - 3
Goldfinch - 6
Bullfinch - 3
Robin - 1

My annual totals for 2011 involved 3764 birds which were as follows:
Mute Swan - 3
Canada Goose - 1
Mallard - 16
Grey Heron - 16
Mandarin Duck - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Moorhen - 1
Woodcock - 1 (new species for me)
Common Tern - 5
Stock Dove - 4
Woodpigeon - 2
Collared Dove - 6
Barn Owl - 13
Tawny Owl - 3
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 23
Swallow - 65
Tree Pipit - 1 (new species for me)
Pied Wagtail - 23
Wren - 54
Dunnock - 38
Robin - 67
Blackbird - 41
Fieldfare - 2
Song Thrush - 37
Redwing - 18
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 58
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 28
Garden Warbler - 14
Blackcap - 107
Chiffchaff - 138
Willow Warbler - 60
Goldcrest - 179
Firecrest - 2
Spotted Flycatcher - 4
Long-tailed Tit - 40
Marsh Tit - 5
Coal Tit - 28
Blue Tit - 692
Great Tit - 430
Nuthatch - 10
Treecreeper - 15
Jay - 3
Magpie - 3
Jackdaw - 26
Starling - 1
House Sparrow - 10
Chaffinch - 94
Brambling - 2
Greenfinch - 79
Goldfinch - 105
Siskin - 289
Redpoll sp. - 203
Lesser Redpoll - 330
Common (Mealy) Redpoll - 337
Bullfinch - 20
Reed Bunting - 4

Garden to Gambia

Having been prevented from ringing all week due to strong winds I managed to do a brief session in my garden today before the rains came.  Just 15 new birds including two Greenfinch and seven Goldfinch.

This will be my last post for a couple of weeks as I am heading off to The Gambia on a ringing expedition.  This is to look into Western Palearctic migrants on their wintering grounds and more study into West African birds.

Birds ringed:
Greenfinch - 2
Blue Tit - 4
Goldfinch - 7
Great Tit - 2

Two Demos and Two Finch Recoveries

With a rather windy week, it hasn't been ideal for doing two ringing demonstrations for National Trust volunteers!  The first was on 2nd Dec at Henman Bunkhouse, Broadmoor on the northern side of Leith Hill.  The catch was mainly Blue and Great Tits, but also included a continental Blackbird, three Goldcrest and a Lesser Redpoll, whilst the only retrap was the huge winged Goldcrest that I had ringed on Leith Hill on 21st Nov.

The second was in the normal spot on Leith Hill this morning with the catch including five Redpolls, two Siskin (above) and two Redwing.  Interestingly during this morning I caught eight retraps, which is the most ever caught up here in one session involving Siskins originally ringed in May, July, August, September and November!

Apart from these demos two normal sessions were had on Leith Hill catching 55 new birds including 35 Redpolls, four Siskin, two Redwing, four Goldcrest and a female Bullfinch (above).

A couple of recoveries I have had back as follows:

L977558 Lesser Redpoll - 1st year ringed on 10th Oct 2011 at Cannock Chase, Stafford and caught on 21st Oct 2011 at Leith Hill 11 days and 200km SE later (below).

X403389 Siskin - 1st year male ringed on 5th May 2009 at Slaley, Northumberland and caught on 30th Nov 2011 at Leith Hill 881 days and 430km SSE later (below).

Birds ringed:

Redpoll sp. - 15

Common (Mealy) Redpoll - 22

Lesser Redpoll - 4

Siskin - 6

Great Tit - 13

Blue Tit - 9

Chaffinch - 1

Bullfinch - 1

Goldcrest - 8

Wren - 2

Redwing - 4

Blackbird - 1