Redpolls plus

Today dawned (at 3:30am) bright but cold and although we had the nets opened by 4:30am it was a relatively slow start. However, things warmed up pretty quickly as did the passage of birds with small groups flying over regularly.

Eventually the weather was glorious until we closed the nets at around 1:00pm. During that time we ringed 426 new birds of which the most numerous at 344 were Redpoll. As we have said already, the variation in plumage is considerable but to illustrate that here is a picture of 2 Common Redpoll:-

As you can see one is not only much bigger than the other (left in the top photograph, right in the bottom photograph) it is also much paler and with a comparatively bigger beak. Within birding circles there is much debate about Redpoll naming and genetics but current thinking is that the bigger bird is a race which breeds in Northern Russia.

We did ring another 16 species of which 2 provided members of our team with birds that they had never seen let alone ringed. This beauty is a Little Bunting which we have ringed before on these trips but was a new species for team members who had not been before.

This is a Little Bunting, which as the name suggests is a bit smaller than for example a Reed Bunting, but there are 3 distinct features shown in the lower photograph. First, the cream eye ring, second, a small bill with a decurved upper mandible but most importantly a dark “U” shaped mark between the eye and the neck.

Shortly after this excitement, the temperature was raised again when we caught 4 Siberian Tits- enough for each of the team members new to the project to experience ringing one. As you can see from the picture, not only are they beautiful creatures but they are distinctly different from any of the Tit family we are likely to encounter.

The brown cap, extensive black bib, fawn body and longish tail all set it aside from others of the Tit family.

After the nets were furled, we drove East to explore some of the highlights that the area can provide. We saw lots of gulls, including many locally nesting Kittiwakes, a range of waders, sea and freshwater ducks including Common Eider and Common and Velvet Scoter, but unfortunately the impending rain meant an early return home.

The forecast for tomorrow doesn’t look too good in terms of both possible rain and strong winds. However, with the good team we have, we will be able to duck and dive and make the most of events. 

News again tomorrow.