A Small Purple Patch at Kenfig 18/4/14

With ringing sessions at Kenfig having been fairly limited by wind and weather, it was pleasant to put some nests up around the reserve centre. We were hoping to catch some of the migrants starting to arrive at the reserve. Dave was joined by Alex and Chris to set out the usual 4x18m nets around the centre. Care was needed on the path to two of them, to avoid an Early Purple Orchid right in the middle of the access route.

Early Purple Orchid

The morning turned up a few of the expected migrants but in small numbers as the session had to be cut short due to the increasing wind. 

A Willow Warbler reluctant to leave

 Total for the day:

Kenfig 10th April 2014

With no trainees available I rang solo this morning with 4 60' nets arranged in various places near the reserve centre building. Conditions were pretty good with no wind and a bit of cloud cover. It was great to catch plenty of spring migrants.

Robin 2, Blackcap 5, Bullfinch 5, Wren 2, Blue tit 2 (1), Blackbird (1), Chiffchaff 1, Willow warbler 4, Dunnock 2 (1), House sparrow 1, Great tit 2, Goldfinch 1 and Reed bunting (1).
31 birds caught of which 4 were retraps (in brackets)

A wood pigeon and linnet were caught but escaped the net as I approached.

 One of five bullfinches.

 Tail on a '6' blackcap (hatched before 2013)

Female goldfinch. This individual was a '5' (hatched in 2013)

Totals for the day: