Winding Down for 2025

Stanstock was at the end of August, so what have we been up to since then? As it turns out, quite a lot. A total of 32 sessions have been subsequently undertaken, bringing in a total of 5,663 birds. This is largely because September and October are hot months for migratory birds including large numbers of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and many others. For Stanford, rarities might include Dusky, Radde's or Yellow Browed Warblers, or Firecrest, or really any other vagrant. Unfortunately, these didn't actually turn up (yet!) but this is  clearly not for want of trying.

So what have we got recently? Well, the summer seems to have evaporated very quickly, and the winter is really just round the corner. So from now on in, it's migratory Thrushes and layers. Here is the group working hard on 09/11/25, quite a productive day, with a total of 59 new birds and 34 retraps. This includes an evening Starling roost organised by AGH, plus birds ringed in the Paddock by DS.

Jo scribing, Kate, Matt, Adam, Isla and Mark ringing. Sensible clothing much on display... stylish too.  

 

Fieldfare- regular winter visitor

 

Ringing a Redwing... looks like an adult, just a thin smear of white on the tertials. 

New birds were: Starling 22, Redwing 12, Chiffchaff 7, Blue Tit 7, Blackbird 5, Reed Bunting 5, Great Tit 2 and singles of Cetti's Warbler, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Long Tailed Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Robin, Song Thrush and Yellowhammer.

So nothing rare, but a representative selection of late autumn birds. It is always nice to finish on a spectacular species, so here is the best from the day:  

 

Male adult Sprrowhawk; it can't be comfortable to be a Blue Tit and to see those claws bearing down on you!

 

Finally, this will probably be the last blog of the year (unless anything exciting happens), so keep an eye out for news of scrub bashing in 2026, and notification of the publication of the annual report on our website.