A gentle south easterly today, and a successful days ringing at Walsey Hills catching 65 birds (46 new and 16 retraps). The highlight of which was colour ringing another Yellow-browed Warbler, which makes the 2^nd for Walsey this autumn, and the 4^th overall across our reserves (with another colour ringed and 1 metal ringed at Holme Bird Observatory). For new birds we caught 14 Goldcrest, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Wren, 5 Chiffchaff, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Blackcap, 1 Robin, 1 Great Tit, 2 Dunnock and 1 Greenfinch. For retraps we caught 5 Blue Tit, 6 Dunnock, 2 Great Tit, 1 Robin, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Coal Tit.

Yellow-browed Warbler

The Dusky Warbler is still in the Willows at Walsey/Snipe’s Marsh and is showing well at times, though being very skulky at times too! This morning whilst doing net rounds it showed especially well with some patience, coming out the feed along the Willows along the public footpath! It was also being very vocal and calling giving a good chance to get familiar with the call.

Typical Dusky Warbler views! A (terrible) photo through my binoculars was all I could manage.

Other birding highlights today included 4 Brambling with small Chaffinch flocks moving through (at least 90 Chaffinch), 4 Redpoll and 1 Siskin. For thrushes, 6 Blackbird, 4 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing. A Grey Wagtail also flew overhead a few times.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden