Linacre ringing and a new species

Spent a few hours down at Linacre this morning with the Ringing Group. We thought it was going to be quiet, as the feeders had hardly been touched, but by the end of the session we were pleasantly surprised with 28 birds, including a summer migrant, a new species for Linacre, and some good records of  over flying birds (both summer and winter migrants!)

First up, the ringing. Today we caught a total of  7 species (Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Blue, Great and Coal Tit).  We also had a Yellowhammer in the ringing site, which was a first for Linacre. My personal totals were (new/retrap): Blue Tit 0/1, Dunnock 2/1, Robin 1/0, Chaffinch 1/0 and Great Tit 1/0.

As well as the ringing we also recorded 4 Swallows (the latest Linacre record so far), a hunting Kestrel, 3 over-flying Skylarks (the first 2013 record), some Pink-footed Geese (heard by David, but unfortunately not seen, first record of 2013), Tawny Owl (heard "twit twooing" at 6.45am in woodlands below the ringing site) and c.50 Black-headed Gulls feeding in the fields on the way out (my first record of the winter period).

In between the net rounds I spent some time with my nephew, Luke, searching out some of the insect life at Linacre. I'll blog about the sightings later in the week, but I can say, there are some new species again!!