The Lincolnshire Bird Club

After a very inactive November due to constant windy conditions, I went to a private garden near Whisby Village yesterday. In 4 hours we ringed 134 new birds, re-trapped 1 and controlled 2 others (Birds ringed elsewhere by another ringer). Most were t*t species together with a few finches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The undoubted highlight was a flock of 17 Long tailed T*ts - the largest number I have ever ringed in one flock. This was surprising as I have caught very few this year in woodland sites around Market Rasen. This is one of the few times I'm pleased to see fog as the still conditions are ideal for ringing provided the nets don't get too wet.

My annual trip to a friends' garden near Spilsby today was very productive with 64 birds handled. 26 Goldfinches caught were a testimony to theattraction of Niger seed! The two surprises were a male Blackcap ringed and a female Blackbird bearing a Dutch (Arnhem) ring! The site is 13 miles from the coast so these are excellent inland records.