citrinella
Well-known member
Our winter mist netting programme for farmland birds has started again.
At the feed station at Site 1 we have adjusted the protocol in response to a change in feed provision. Previously all provided food took the form of artificial feed mainly from feeders along a farm track. Now a strip of wild bird cover including cereals and brassicas will be maintained along one side of the track outside a good hedge. Feeding on the track will continue and nets will be placed next to the feeders. Nets will also be placed between the wild bird cover and the hedge, and we will have to "guesstimate" where best to put them for each session as the strip of wild bird cover is many times the length of the 36m or so of nets we will be using.
At Site 2 we are also adjusting or protocol slightly. Here there are two main feeding areas, both with wild bird cover and pheasant feeders. Wild bird cover is a variable producer of seed, so some years the area we have used has been good, some years not so good. We also suspect that our activities may have influenced which area was used by the birds. Changing area to meet the needs of the moment is the obvious course, but this would lead to inconsistency of effort and we do not have a presence on site, so would not know where the birds are feeding. To try to overcome these issues we intend to alternate between feeding areas.
Mist netting at Site 1, 16.10.16.
Blackbird new 4
retrap
Chaffinch new 1
retrap
Chiffchaff new 1
retrap
Coal tit new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 3
retrap
Goldcrest new 1
retrap
Goldfinch new 1
retrap
Redwing new 5
retrap
Robin new 3
retrap 2
Song Thrush new 1
retrap
Tree sparrow new 18
retrap
Wren new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 3
retrap
TOTAL new 43
retrap 2
We used a redwing tape and saw c.40 flying over more than once.
Also seen/heard :
Mallard
Greylag geese
Pink footed geese
Golden plover
Buzzard
Tawny owl
Skylark including flock of c.30
Meadow pipit
Fieldfare
Long-tailed tit
Brambling
Redpoll
Bullfinch
Having robin, skylark and wren singing at this time of year is no surprise but we also heard chiffchaff which have been singing late this autumn, while hearing a yellowhammer singing this late is unknown here.
Mainly forgetting corvids, gulls, non-natives, pigeons and tits.
Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.
At the feed station at Site 1 we have adjusted the protocol in response to a change in feed provision. Previously all provided food took the form of artificial feed mainly from feeders along a farm track. Now a strip of wild bird cover including cereals and brassicas will be maintained along one side of the track outside a good hedge. Feeding on the track will continue and nets will be placed next to the feeders. Nets will also be placed between the wild bird cover and the hedge, and we will have to "guesstimate" where best to put them for each session as the strip of wild bird cover is many times the length of the 36m or so of nets we will be using.
At Site 2 we are also adjusting or protocol slightly. Here there are two main feeding areas, both with wild bird cover and pheasant feeders. Wild bird cover is a variable producer of seed, so some years the area we have used has been good, some years not so good. We also suspect that our activities may have influenced which area was used by the birds. Changing area to meet the needs of the moment is the obvious course, but this would lead to inconsistency of effort and we do not have a presence on site, so would not know where the birds are feeding. To try to overcome these issues we intend to alternate between feeding areas.
Mist netting at Site 1, 16.10.16.
Blackbird new 4
retrap
Chaffinch new 1
retrap
Chiffchaff new 1
retrap
Coal tit new 1
retrap
Dunnock new 3
retrap
Goldcrest new 1
retrap
Goldfinch new 1
retrap
Redwing new 5
retrap
Robin new 3
retrap 2
Song Thrush new 1
retrap
Tree sparrow new 18
retrap
Wren new 1
retrap
Yellowhammer new 3
retrap
TOTAL new 43
retrap 2
We used a redwing tape and saw c.40 flying over more than once.
Also seen/heard :
Mallard
Greylag geese
Pink footed geese
Golden plover
Buzzard
Tawny owl
Skylark including flock of c.30
Meadow pipit
Fieldfare
Long-tailed tit
Brambling
Redpoll
Bullfinch
Having robin, skylark and wren singing at this time of year is no surprise but we also heard chiffchaff which have been singing late this autumn, while hearing a yellowhammer singing this late is unknown here.
Mainly forgetting corvids, gulls, non-natives, pigeons and tits.
Many thanks to all concerned, Mike.