It doesn't have to be lush.....

With the moon rising later now, we ventured out onto our upland pastures tonight !
Woodcock were sitting in pairs, and with little wind and a squelch underfoot we knew in the short time we had that these were not good catching conditions.

 

A few birds took flight, then we did catch this fine new adult, not in the grassy sheep pastures but in a resown field. Not in the text book  but do have success in a variety of fields including stubble.

 

Back to the longer grass with small pools of water. A meadow Pipit next then this Common Snipe. We don't catch that many Snipe when out with the lamp, and after this bird, the remaining Snipe were calling as they flew, alerting what remained in the field !

Lesser Redpoll movement....or not

Back in November last year the group ringed 24 Lesser Redpoll on the Teifi Marsh - an unprecedented number since the group started ringing there in 2008.
In the last 2 weeks I have retrapped 3 of those 24 in my garden in Llechryd. As the bird flies it isn't that far from the reserve but a different habitat with them jostling for position on the sunflower heart feeder with the Greenfinches, Siskins and Goldfinches.
This very red male was the latest, caught today in a lull between gales.

Where these have bred isn't known but Ty Rhyg plantation in the Preseli hills has a history of breeding so we hope that Paddy will catch some of our birds there later in the year!

On the BTO birdringing blog there is an interesting post about Lessser Redpolls - Predictable migration-not!