As is usually the case at this time of year, the majority of the catch comes in the first two hours of dawn, which suits us quite well given the public nature of the site. A couple of Song Thrush, a Linnet and the first Great Tits in (what seems like) ages were amongst the adult birds we caught early on, with 3J's (birds hatched this year in juvenile plumage) being caught in the form of Greenfinch, Dunnock and Robin. It was this weekend last year that we started to catch 3J Whitethroat and Blackcap at Brook Vale at the other end of Rimrose Valley but everything seems much later this year, both in terms of arrivals and in breeding. We are yet to catch a Whitethroat with a brood patch, although Blackcap have been caught with brood patch code 3 in the past three weeks.
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
With the temperatures rising, the wind also began to get a little too strong, so by 9am we were packing up, but not before we had our first dragonfly of the year, this female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa). Apologies for the poor-quality image.
L.T.Tit - 1
Chiffchaff - (1)
Wren - 1 (2)
Robin - 1 (2)
Dunnock - 2 (2)
Blackcap - 10 (3)
Whitethroat - 8
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Linnet - 1
Chaffinch - 1
Blue Tit - (2)
Greenfinch - 2
Song Thrush - 2 (1)
Blackbird - 1
TOTAL: 33 (14)
Later in the afternoon, I headed up to meet Steve and ring a brood of five Kestrel that we knew would be ready. All birds were a healthy size and at a similar stage in growth - no doubt this spell of settled weather has aided feeding success for the parents, much to the benefit of the youngsters.
Steve ringing a Kestrel
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