A less productive October than last: I was wondering how much of that is down to the weather we have had this year, but on checking there was actually more rain last October than this: Storm Babet apparently.
We did have fewer species in the catch than this time last year: with 34 species compared to 37 in October 2023. Additional to the list for this month was a brilliant catch of two Firecrest: first one at Red Lodge, the other, four days later, at the Wildlife Trust Biss Wood reserve. Prior to these catches we had only ringed nine since the beginning of 2013: three in the Warminster area, two in the Tidworth area, and one each in Red Lodge, Ravensroost Wood, Brown’s Farm, Marlborough and Lower Moor Farm.
Also added to the list compared to last month were: Kestrel; Kingfisher, Siskin and Tree Sparrow. Missing this year were: Fieldfare; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Grey Wagtail; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Magpie; Sparrowhawk; Starling and Woodpigeon.
The Lesser Black-backed Gull that was ringed at Langford Lakes last October was only the fourth ever caught by the group: the three previous were caught by Rob Turner, also at Langford Lakes, in February 2012. We don’t catch a lot of Fieldfare, only 42 since the beginning of 2013 and last year’s was the first caught in October, the bulk being in November (21) and December (13). The lack of Starlings was twofold: last year’s were caught mainly in Rosie’s garden with one in mine and one at Blakehill Farm: and neither Rosie’s nor my garden had sessions this October. Also, the Woodpigeon was caught and ringed in my garden.
There is a clear upsurge in Redwing arrivals this month, and it is our best ever catch in October. The previous best October was in 2021 at 81. No other October has had as many as 50 Redwing: November is always the best month for this species for our group. Apart from Redwing and, funnily enough, Wrens have more than doubled on last year, both ringed and retrapped and was, again, the best October catch we have had of the species by over 20 birds compared to the previous best in 2019.
The dearth of Yellowhammer was interesting: last year’s total came from three sessions at Andy’s Imber Ranges site. This year he also carried out three sessions there but with only three from the site (the fourth was at Jonny’s Sutton Benger site). I wonder what has caused the difference?
We are heading towards our best ever year: just 500 birds fewer than the entirety of 2023.
Ringing In The Braydon Forest & Beyond 