I was at Walsey today ringing, and it was another good day for it with little to no wind and overcast conditions. We ringed between sunrise to 11:00 and it ended up being quite busy with lots and lots of finches (15 Greenfinch and 20 Goldfinch!) which was lovely to see. We caught 106 birds including:

• Long tailed tit – 13 (3)
• Chiffchaff – 1
• Goldcrest – 6
• Blue tit – 20 (7)
• Grey wagtail – 1
• Goldfinch – 20
• Blackcap – 2
• Chaffinch – 4
• Coal tit – 1 (1)
• Greenfinch – 15
• Dunnock – 3 (4)
• Great Tit – (2)
• Robin – (3)

** Number not in brackets = new birds, number in brackets refer to birds recaptured (birds previously ringed by me)

The highlight was definitely this stunnning Grey Wagtail, which is only the second I’ve caught at Walsey! Over the past couple of weeks one has been visiting the Walsey pond so it ended up flying into the net that runs along the bottom adjacent to the feeders and pond.

Grey Wagtail

A lot of roosting Starling lifted off the marshes first thing with 450! There was12 Cattle Egret with the cattle across the road and viewable from Walsey. A Brambling and Siskin went overhead in the morning. There was at least 24 Skylark over and 3 Redwing.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden