Mt Albert Wednesday 27 March - Silvereyes

Finally managed a session at the Mt Albert fennel patch this morning. I had tried unsuccessfully twice in the last week, on Sunday morning with perfect conditions I found that someone had nicked most of the guys and as I hadn't taken any spares had to abort. Then on Monday got there to find it was too windy. This morning was successful with good conditions of cloud and a light southerly. Caught 29 new Silvereyes and 5 recaps, the oldest recap was banded May 2012 all the rest were banded over the last month or so. The only bycatch was a single Dunnock.

Like the Sparrows at Island Bay last Saturday a lot of the Silvereyes are nearing the end of their moult with several scoring in the forties.

Silvereye with a moult score of 44 out of a possible 45