Yellowhammer

The weather has been pretty shitty the last week , and next to that the weather forecast turned out to be wrong multiple times. Well done weathermen! This morning was calm and sunny though, excellent for ringing. What a contrast compared to the strong SW wind of 5 bft with rain.

So this morning the 5th session of the season was held on the Veluwe. We had a nice number of birds and species for this site. Observations included: Siskins, Linnets, Crosbills, Bullfinches, quite a few Hawfinches (when we will catch one??), Firecrest, Woodcock, male Goshawk and of course the more common stuff. Below the totals:

Blackbird (Turdus merula) 2 -
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) 2 -
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) - 1
Dunnock (Prunella modellaris) 1 - new species for the site!
Great Tit  (Parus major) 6 - 1
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) 4 - 1
Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) 1 - 1
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) 2 -
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) 2 -6 including 1 Dutch control (controlled on the nest already, but first time in the nets)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) 1 - beautiful adult female
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) 1 -

Total 32 birds (22-10) spread over 11 species.

Some adults had already started their post-breeding moult. For example a few Pied Flycatchers, a Willow Warbler and a Great Tit.

 Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), female, possibly a 2cy according to the very abraded tail

 Dunnock (Prunella modellaris), an unusual capture I would say in the middle of the forest.

Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) that have started their post-breeding moult. The upper bird has started moulting its inner few primaries and also its greater coverts and has already moulted two primary coverts. The bird below is moulting the inner two primaries and has already moulted the inner two primary coverts.

'Our' juvenile Blackbirds in the back garden are doing great by the way!