New site developing nicely

I've lost count of the number of times over the last 40+ years that I've taken on a new ringing site--and the pattern is almost always the same--it takes time to explore the site, try out potential net sites and get to grips with which species are likely to be ringed.
Our new farm site on the Staffs/Shrops border is no exception-although so far the site we chose looks like it is already developing into a very productive one.
Kev and son Gareth had a second session there on Thursday and although 34 new birds isn't mind-blowing, it is a good total, and the spread of species was excellent showing how good the woodland is for native and migrant species.
17 warblers ( Garden, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest) were supplemented by a spread of resident species including this juvenile Long Tailed Tit:-

This is a view of a Long Tailed Tit most people don't get so I thought I'd use it to point out two things. First the red eye ring is worthy of any make-up artist I reckon. Second this bird is clearly a chocolate brown colour showing that it must have left the nest a mere few weeks before this picture was taken. Any time now all juvenile Long Tails undergo a moult of their body feathers to replace the brown with black feathers--so much so that in a few weeks time we won't be able to tell adults from juveniles.
In addition to the ringing totals, they also saw a Woodcock displaying the evening before, and they saw some Siskins and a small flock of Crossbills--probably part of a national influx of large numbers of both these species from northern Europe over recent weeks.
Kev and Gareth are looking forward to their next session at the farm--news of their next visit will of course appear here...…...