1st May 2013

Lesser Redpoll, control

The first day of what is normally one of the best months of the year started hopefully with some lighter winds with a southerly element, although a little cloud and mist would not have gone amiss. The paddocks were generally quiet with a few Goldfinches and the odd Willow Warbler around at dawn, but the first round of the trapping area was a surprise, the only bird caught was a male Sparrowhawk which turned out to be the very bird controlled here on 13th April, which incidentally we now know was originally ringed by one of our members in his West Kirby garden! The Sparrowhawk shared ringing result of the day with a Lesser Redpoll caught that had also been ringed elsewhere, the place yet unknown. Migration this morning continued to be very slow, although a Whitethroat dropped in to the island later in the day; heard or seen were single Wood Pigeon, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit, House Sparrow and 3 Starlings plus a single female Greenland Wheatear and 5 Swallows. A fine drake Eider appeared in the afternoon. Five hundred Dunlin continue about the shore with 3 Whimbrel today, sea birds included 28 Common Scoter several Sandwich Terns and a Gannet.

Ringed :- 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Linnets, 1 Wheatear, 1 Meadow Pipit.   [ 351-25 ]

(DB,CJ,DCT,PT,CJW,NDW,PSW, et al +SRR)    Photo CJ