...rare that the humble Dunnock gets a mention in our ringing summaries but its all-time record also fell today, with the 160th ringed overtaking the previous record of 159 in 2021. The first Redwing of the autumn and another Dartford Warbler also amongst the day's catch
Big arrival of Chiffchaffs today and tapped into plenty of them in the mist-nets - 99 out of the day's ringing total of 179 at the Bill; this total also takes us over the all-time CC year record (now on 1393 for this year, previous record 1301 in 2012)...
Overcast skies led to an uptick in moth numbers overnight, with singles of Toadflax Pearl catalaunalis and Golden Twin-spot the best of the migrants at the Obs; unseasonables included singles of Rosy Tabby flammealis and Small Fan-footed Wave
OK - a chance of it being the same I reckon: ours was a good while before that and what with it passing close inshore both ways in quick succession it looked like a potential lingerer rather than a longer distance migrant
Ringing numbers on the up again at the Bill with 157 new in perfect conditions. Good arrival of 44 Chiffchaffs and 35 more Swallows the highest totals; 13 more Redpolls and the third Cetti's Warbler of the autumn the best of the variety. Ta Rob Stephens for the Cetti's photo from Culverwell.
Again, far too clear and cool overnight for successful mothing: at the Obs, a single Toadflax Pearl the best of a limited catch of migrants; an unseasonable Swallowtail was an oddity there
...also on the ringing front, a single Redpoll took their year total to 25 (all in the last 10 days) which is a new PBO record + the first migrant Song Thrush of the autumn was trapped
Today's weak weather front passed too late to jazz up the ringing numbers at the Bill - just 69 new at the Obs/Crown Estate Field (no nos received yet from Culverwell) with the best the first Greenfinch ringed this year - before the ravages of Trichomonosis we've ringed as many as 566 in a year!...
...also on the ringing front: we've received notification of a fantastic recovery of a Firecrest ringed here last October that was controlled a few days ago by a ringer in the Czech Republic - the first movement of a UK-ringed Firecrest to the Czech Republic or indeed to anywhere in central Europe
Ringing gathered a bit of momentum at the Bill today: 180 new incl 74 Swallows, 22 Chiffchaffs and 18 Blackcaps; nice variety of other seasonable movers incl 7 Pied Wagtails, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Redpolls and a Firecrest...
Last night's migrant moth catch not really up to expectations - stayed too clear and moonlit for too long? An Old World Webworm, 2 Olive-tree Pearl, 3 Vestal and 5 White-speck the best of the less regulars at the Obs.
Resumption of ringing activities today after the weather-enforced hiatus. Relatively quiet with just 66 new birds between the Obs, the Crown Estate Field and Culverwell; 15 CCs and 13 Bcaps the only numbers but 6 more Redpolls and the first Siskin of the year amongst some nice variety
Despite the howling wind there's nothing like the arrival of much, much milder air to perk up migrant moth interest: Silver-striped Hawkmoth caught overnight at the Obs
