Surprise early doors

Having been up early the previous two days, it was no surprise that I woke early again, despite the alarm clock being turned off. Having used the two garden poles yesterday (see here), I re-erected the 20' just as there was a glimmer on the eastern horizon.

A wash and a shave later, a pair of Starlings had attempted to make for the bread on the lawn before 6am (BST). They were processed and I indulged in a little more toiletry before looking out the window, net checking. An all grey bird with a black head was hanging there and I shot down stairs quickly. It turned out to be a 5M (2CY) Blackcap, the first of the year for the garden.

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Today's Blackcap X447901, 5M, 1 ogc, wing 75, 16.8 g, fat 1, muscle 2. @06:30BST

Then, after a breakfast of yoghurt and oat flakes, it was off to the park to lead a guided walk for spring migrants.

Weather wise

Garden ringing has been rubbish this last week. Either the sun was out "24/7" so to speak, or we were "blessed" with a stiff easterly breeze.

So it was just 10 birds, of which 5 were new.
Blue Tit (1)
House Sparrow 3 (2)
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 1 (2)

Penultimate visit

This was to be the only April visit to NW Norfolk. The reason - Jen has sold out to her brother and is moving to Bedford ... temporarily. I have an appointment with our Priory CES site next weekend and the weekend after I shall be packing for our caravan holiday in Dorset (where we will be house hunting) and Cornwall, where we will get pissed in Padstow at the May Day celebrations. It now looks like we will be met there by one of Jen's neices, Hannah, and her partner, 'Ginge' (Ian).

Rear view. The net runs in front of the RH shrubs to the pole

Getting the net up after lunch on the Saturday, it didn't yield many birds before dusk; just 4, with nothing between half two and five o'clock. Up early on Sunday morning to open the net proved a deliberate act of masochism again, with 3 birds by breakfast time, 2 more just before lunch, and then 3 more as it was getting dark. Bank holiday Monday and I followed the same routine, but did close for a couple of hours mid-afternoon when we walked to "Onion Corner", once on the main road to Hunstanton but now by-passed by the 'Queen Elizabeth Way'. Then nothing.

This is how it panned out.
Saturday pm - 1 Greti, 2 Chaff & 1 Blabi.

 A neat 5M Chaffinch with a wing of 86.5


Sunday am - 2 Bluti, 1 Blabi, 1 Robin & 1 Grefi.

A 6m Greenfinch with a low weight of 24.4 - hence the fluffed up appearance

Sunday pm - 1 Dunno, 1 Robin & 1 Bluti.
Monday am - 1 Goldc, 4 Grefi, 1 Coati & 1 Chiff.

A surprise 6F Goldcrest. 'Hubby' was nearby

So that was that. Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 2 (1), Great Tit 1, Coal Tit 1,

The sole Coal Tit, unringed, aged 5, 4 ogc's.
The rest have deserted the feeders for now. 

Blackbird 2, Robin 1 (1), Dunnock 1, Chaffinch 1 (1) & Greenfinch 5.

Another garden rarity - 4M Chiffchaff with a wing of 64

19 birds in all with just the three retraps. It'll have to do.