w/e 6th October

Monday 1st - 12 Swallows in a hurry south, followed by 4 House Martins about 09:30. On Fingers - 18 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon (again), 1 Tufted, 3 of the 9 Gadwall visible and 3 Dabchicks. Some Sky Lark activity but not as much as yesterday. Tony P had 4 Chiffs and a Whitethroat.

Tuesday 2nd - grey and damp; only the one swallow seen, but light passage of Sky Lark (largest party = 3) and couple of blogging Mipits. Treecreeper in the "rough" and the Whitethroat was in the "long hedge". 2x (?) parties of 28 Redwing rushing around, plus a few spares, but only caught the one. Best bird was an adult male goldcrest (see pix).

Also trapped, a Lotti ringed in Sept. 2003. 6 young Blackbirds were ringed, all fresh in, and a large-winged, male Chiff with a particularly loud call. A small party of Blue Tits were all female (mostly this years). 32 birds in all from half-seven to half-three.

On the Fingers, the same mix of species as yesterday - with the exception of the Coot, which has put in another appearance. I had 11 Shoveler overhead following a disturbance and there were 7 on 'Lilypads' a little later.

Weds. 3rd - rained as I arrived so might have missed any hirundines. Fingers held 9 Gadwall this morning, 11 Shoveler, 3 L.Grebe and 3 Wigeon - and 1 Coot. I had three Chiffs and some Bullfinches walking the main lake; also 11 GC Grebe & 9 "black death". Robins seemed to be occupying the whole site with their calls and songs. There's been a Common Sand about lately, I hear.

Thurs 4th - a brighter day. A steady if light passage of Sky Lark (2-3/hr) SW; not much else during the morning. Put a net in a new position and caught the intended Kingfisher (young female). Dk reported 8 Chiffs but they all seem to have s****d off overnight as the weather was clear with light winds.

Friday 5th - had a couple of nets up around Fingers but not much doing; certainly no chiffs! Coot numbers have doubled (to 2 - lol). From the 'spit', I counted 20 Moorhens on "lilypads" with the Shovelers, Wigeons, L.Grebes & Grey Herons; sounds peculiar when you put an 'S' on the end!

Going back for a "roost netting session" later today, so ............. Roost, my a***. 1 Blackie & 1 Redwing. 23 other birds including 6 Greenfinch, 4 chaffinch & 2 goldfinch. Oooh, and a second Goldcrest of the autumn. This week, I have ringed 11 new Dunnocks at PCP, which is really unusual. Perhaps they really do migrate, even if this is not very far by others standards. The corvids put on a real display tonight - it went on for a very long time (over 20 mins).

At 18:15, we went to see if the egrets were about, and lo and behold one flew in on cue. 20 minutes later, another flew in, quickly followed by a third.

Sat. 6th - sorry about this, but I've decided to go and catch some Coal & Marsh Tits in the girl-friends back garden in Norfolk. Back soon. [Marsh turned out to be a WILLOW !!]