We have now finished ringing winter farmland birds at our study site on Bourne South Fen. The real surprise this year was that Brambling was the most numerous species with nearly 300 ringed (compared with just 2 there last winter !!). Clearly the cold weather in Europe last November pushed good numbers of Brambling into eastern England, where they stayed throughout the winter.
Both Reed Buntings were slightly down on last year, no doubt the severe weather in December affected them, whereas Yellowhammer numbers seemed around average with 236 Reed Buntings (292 last winter) and 217 Yellowhammers (224 last winter).
Chaffinches (117) and Goldfinches (197) were slightly up on last year.
Alan
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