Ringing with the Regulars

For a change this morning I arranged to meet Chris and Matt Hindle in the Reculver area for some ringing. Chris and Matt regularly ring in the Reculver area and have been doing this for years, their reward last year was a Red flanked Bluetail, imagine seeing that in the net! I arrived just as it was getting light and spent the next few hours walking around the area checking the nets with Chris and Matt and of course having some superb views of the birds up close as well as an education into ringing. Blackbirds seemed to be falling out of every bush and Chris ringed at least 30 birds with over 100 in the area. Other birds today were 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Goldcrest, 3 Meadow Pipit, 13 Fieldfare, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Firecrest were seen well but eluded the nets somehow all morning, 1 Ring necked Parakeet, 1 Brambling and Chris returned with a goodie in the bag in the shape of a Bullfinch. A good bird to see at Reculver anyway but a cracker to see so close. I took a few images but the light was not that good at the time.

Bullfinch

There were 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Jay, 8 Skylark, 4 Siskin, 12 Grey Partridge, 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Tree Sparrow heard calling and seen a little later flying over and one of the nets produced a fine Yellowhammer, another hard bird to sometimes get. More photos and the light was a little better for this one but brilliant to be able to study at close range.

Yellowhammer

Whilst chatting a MEGA flew over for me. It was a Water Pipit (176), a new species for me at Reculver and a very hard bird to get in the area. It called a few times before it was lost to view in the area but later on Chris and Matt saw it again. Before I left I noted 3 Redwing, 5 Mute Swan. A great morning and many thanks to Chris and Matt for a terrific session.

Yellowhammer