Whimbrels worth waiting for

After two or three seasons trying to find a site to catch whimbrels with a lamp and landing net, and failing abysmally, it was a relief to finally catch some using the tried and tested method of a mist net. We have been keen to try and research some of the commonest birds that visit the county and whimbrel pass through every spring in their hundreds or perhaps thousands, though none are ringed to see where they are going or coming from. Tony Cross initiated a colour-ringing scheme which has had some amazing results (see ruffled feathers) but the ten rings he sent me  have just been rattling around somewhere in the back of the car, until last night when Paul brought his lucky mist net and we caught five new birds.

whimbrel

 Also new in recently are most of the summer migrants including  the whitethroat and gropper  below

adult male whitethroat

gropper