Tuesday 31 March 2020

Today was calm, which was welcome after the last two days being quite windy. There was, however, still a breeze coming from the North which kept the temperature down considerably. 

The low wind meant that nets could be opened at the Obs for the first time in a few days. Although migrants were thin on the ground, one Chiffchaff, one Blackcap and seven Goldcrests were ringed -there were a few finches around too and five Goldfinches and a single Chaffinch were ringed. A walk-in trap in the garden also produced a Moorhen, a smart adult bird.

 Adult Moorhen

The recent tit invasion continued today. Before nets were opened, a quick look in the garden made it seem as though there were only a couple of Great Tits around. By the time the nets had been closed, five new Great Tits had been ringed and two had been recaptured from previous days (making seven in the garden in total). A pair of Blue Tits was also caught and ringed, it is unlikely that these will stay on the island and breed, but stranger things have happened! 

one of seven Great Tits caught today
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A pair of Blue Tits, the male with a brighter crown (left) and duller female (right).
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Blue tit

The/a Black Redstart was present at the Obs again today, an unringed individual, along with a Collared Dove which has been singing a lot - it will be interesting to see if it can find a mate and breed this year. Two Coal Tits were also present at the Obs early morning briefly, presumably, these are wandering birds from Nant.

flowering Violets on the mountain above Ty Pellaf

In the evening while out trying to catch waders, George flushed two Woodcocks from along the West Coast along with nine Common Snipes in the Wetlands. It would be interesting to know where the Woodcocks have been going in the day as no one has seen any, other than at night.

Other sightings today included: three Curlews, 118 Herring Gulls, one Little Owl, one Swallow, five Stonechats, one Wheatear, two Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs.

The totals from the ringing session in the Obs garden were: one Chiffchaff, seven Goldcrests, one Moorhen, five Goldfinches, five Great Tits, one Blackcap, one Chaffinch, two Blue Tits and one Meadow Pipit

A cold, breezy night meant that the moth trap was empty this morning.




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