Few but nice birds

Post date: Sep 26, 2014 5:22:35 PM

The last couple of days resulted in few captures, only about 30 on each day. It seems that the weather improvement led many of the long-distance migrants to leave to the wintering quarters, and apart from noticeable arrivals of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) and a few Whitethroats (Sylvia communis), there seem to be few birds around. I expect numbers to increase again, as the late long-distance migrants (e.g. Redstarts, Phoenicurus phoenicurus) and the short/medium-distance migrants (e.g. Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings, Blackcaps) arrive, though I might no be around by then.

There were some nice birds though, which were useful for Tim's training. The captures (and retraps) during the last two sessions were the following:

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 10

Acrocephalus scirpaceus 5 (2)

Alcedo atthis 2 (1)

Caprimulgus europaeus 1

Carduelis chloris 2

Cettia cetti 4 (1)

Cisticola juncidis 2

Erithacus rubecula 7

Estrilda astrild 2

Euplectes afer 5

Locustella naevia (1)

Luscinia svecica 4

Muscicapa striata 1

Parus major (1)

Phylloscopus trochilus 7(1)

Saxicola torquatus 2

Sylvia communis 3

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), a juvenile

A young female Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

Too colourful for my taste, but always popular with visitors in general and children in particular: the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), an adult male

There will be more ringing next week, which is unfortunately the last of the season in Portugal, as other duties demand my attention!

JMN