The Wood Pigs have started !
The morning was flat calm and ideal conditions for an entertaining day of visible migration with even species like Dunnock and Magpie showing signs of migratory restlessness. Goldfinch took the top spot today with 1,640 logged southbound, and Woodpigeon was runner-up on 1,063. Other birds on their way south were 440 Starling, 217 Linnet, 175 Chaffinch, 116 Skylark, 97 Meadow Pipit, 61 Black-headed Gull, 23 Brent Goose, 21 Swallow, 15 Pied Wagtail, 10 Rook, 5 Barnacle Goose, 4 Common Gull, 3 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Siskin, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Dunlin and 1 Velvet Scoter. A further 5 Woodlark heading south suggests this species has had a good breeding year, and 1 Spoonbill was noted heading north. Around the reserve there were 25 Blackbird, 12 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, a family party of 9 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Blackcap, 7 Greenfinch, 4 Wheatear, 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Stonechat, a Firecrest, a Grey Wagtail, a Reed Bunting, a Jay and a Brambling. The Yellow-browed Warbler ringed yesterday remains in the trees by the kitchen.
Double-striped Pug now has three emergencies a year with the final one appearing paler than the earlier ones.
Ringing: 14 Blue Tit, 9 Goldcrest, 8 Great Tit, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 7 Robin, 6 Wren, 6 Chaffinch, 5 Blackbird, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 3 Dunnock, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Firecrest.
Recoveries: 1 Robin (Belgian ring).