Dolgoed was full of song this lunch time despite the cold wind, at least 3 Wood Warblers were viewed working up to their full songs, only one pair of Redstarts, several pairs of Pied Flycatchers as well as Siskins, Goldcrests, Redpolls, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and the usual Tits. Above and on the edge of the wooded area two Tree Pipits were very active.
Brenda Cook has been visiting from Hampshire these last 4 days and despite the windy weather was able to ring some 200 birds, using mists nets and when too windy resorting to Potter and drop-down traps. The total included 60 Goldfinches, 23 Siskins and today 3 Redpoll, the first seen to visit the garden this year. As well as these new birds some of the retraps dated back to late 2011. Regarding the Goldfinches, last September some 120 were ringed as they fed on the seedheads of the Knapweed in the field, just one of these was retrapped in this ringing session.
Alan Lyne