This morning had a slight twist to it with Dries having set
out the nets in garden to the guesthouse. The morning continued at slow pace
until a fall of birds in the nets which just happened to coincide with a talk
and demonstration with a Georgian Falconers Group. We processed Blackcap,
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Tit and Garden Warbler. In between net checking a Black
Woodpecker was observed in flight and calling from trees above the house.
The best was saved till last during the last check of the nets
for the day. An accipter had found its way into the first net. No time was
wasted removing the very co-operative Levant Sparrowhawk from the net.
A yellow grey eye, throat stripe and several bars through the length of the tail were features confirming the age of the bird as a juvenile. The excellent Identification guide to Birds in the
Hand by Demongin, Lelievre, and Candelin assisted with this process.
In the mean time the Honey Buzzards had been pouring through
station one therefore it was time to join my fellow counters for an afternoon
of streaming raptors. This spectacle is still as amazing as the first day I
experienced it. There were 37,000+ HB counted today along with Black Kite by
the bucket full.
For exact numbers please visit the BRC link below where the
full days count is shown.
The previous day on Station two produced a small flock of juvenile Purple Heron which may have been displaced by overnight rain.
What wonders will tomorrow will bring…!
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