The big news just out today is that two of our farmers, Tim and Michael, who we mention regularly on this blog, yesterday received a massive accolade. Their small collective promotes regenerative farming, and last night they were invited to the BBC Radio Farming Today 2023 award ceremony in Newport. They knew they were in the top three, but what a great honour when they were awarded TOP SPOT for running the most innovative and nature friendly farms in the country!!
Tim ( second left) and Michael ( fourth left receiving their award last night from the judges of their category. Well done guys!!
Back on the ringing front, the big news should have been the usual mass influx of Redwings which normally means we catch big numbers. Unfortunately this year has seen rather more of a trickle than a rush. Sessions which normally end with 30+ birds ringed, this year are turning up around 10 or fewer. However, large numbers have been reported yesterday coming in off the North Sea on the Yorkshire coast so we will hope they move inland quickly.
There's a similar tale for our Jack Snipe which are appearing in much smaller numbers than usual--although it is reasonably early in the season si I hope they will arrive soon--watch this space....
Meanwhile in 'Siskin Towers'--ie Pat's mid Wales garden, again numbers of Siskin are few and far between--although he did have this stunning adult male a couple of weeks ago...
Pat, is however, attracting some other interesting species including two new ones for his garden, a Blackcap yesterday, and this belting Pied Wagtail a couple of weeks ago....
Plumage anomalies occur now and then, and this weird Chaffinch turned up a couple of days back.
I've never seen such a punk effect before so I've no real idea what caused it--any answers gratefully received!!
Paul is having some success at BPF in a cover crop containing a lot of Sorghum--Linnets seem to love it
Across at Teddesley, Liz has just completed a new project. She has built a cage trap hoping to catch woodland and farmland birds--finches and buntings...
It's only just been completed so I will report later on developments.
Finally new license holder Roy, had a superb surprise on Wednesday with this Kestrel--not a regular bird in mist nets....
You can just make out the development of a grey head, and some of the grey adult tail feathers are just coming through on this first year male.
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