:: Wild Places Blog ::

Packed our ringing gear and headed up to Lincolnshire on Friday evening, arriving around 9pm. A couple of beers and a catch up with James then an early night in readiness for getting up before the crack of dawn.

17th April 2010

James has recently been developing another part of the site we had been to previously. We put up a selection of nets and caught slowly but steadily throughout the day. Our first Chiffchaffs of spring were caught and ringed plus a Pied Wagtail, a couple of Yellowhammers and a few Linnets. The day was warm and sunny with very little wind - a really pleasant way to spent the day and a good selection of species ringed: Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Pied Wagtail and Goldfinch.

James gave us news that the Goldfinch we caught last time we were here (17th and 18th October 2009) had originally been ringed in Kent.

Male Linnet

Pair of Linnets, in the net together

Pied Wagtail

This time we had all mod cons with our Argos special picnic table

18th April 2010

Up early again and another day of good weather. Willow Warblers singing this morning and James heard Lesser Whitethroat. Caught and ringed our first Willow Warblers and Blackcap of spring. Another nice bird was a male (by CP) Mistle Thrush.

My bird of the day had to be a stonking male Ring Ouzel which flew over, landing on a nearby bush giving me a great view. I wasn’t sure if the others had seen it so dashed off to find them - happily James had picked it up flying over although Ian had missed out.

Willow Warbler

A great weekend at a lovely spot - we hardly saw a single person. Yes, it feels like spring is here at last!