Tuesday 15th October 2019

1st winter male Firecrest

With only one rain free day in Plymouth out of the last 25 and blasting westerly winds as well it was a relief to see a half decent forecast for today. There were still a couple of light showers to contend with but it was pleasantly warm when the sun was out. If anything the weather was almost too good, allowing the Chiffchaffs present to feed in the tops of the trees and pass over the mist nets. I needn’t have worried though as they descended when it gradually clouded over. 41 birds were trapped: 3 Blue Tit, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Great Tit, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Robin, 1 Song Thrush and 8 Wren.

Thursday 10th October 2019

After spending two wind-blown and wet weeks at Portland Bird Observatory, with more ringers than birds on those few days when the wind dropped, I was keen to get back to South Milton. In reality the wind today was borderline but the forecast for the rest of the week is even worse so I took a chance. If all the leaves I caught had been birds I would have been kept pretty busy but ended the morning with just 11 new birds: 3 Blackcap, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Robin and 1 Wren.