Houghton Bay Friday 17 April

A small group had a session at the Houghton Bay stream this afternoon. Considering the recent wet weather we had a reasonable catch with 31 birds of 6 species; 26 new and 5 recaps.

The "Team" Kate and her friend Kenisha, our main bag carrier. Andrea, our scribe and George.

As is usual at this site the majority were Silvereyes with 9 new and 5 recaptures the oldest of which was banded in June 2013, Other birds were (all new) 3 House Sparrows, 8 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and a Grey Warbler.

We had an interesting recapture reported this week. A Chaffinch hit a window and stunned itself in Hungerford Rd. It was taken to the SPCA where it recovered and was released. the bird had been banded at the Houghton Bay stream (about 500m from where it hit the window) in Jan 2008. Although not our oldest Chaffinch it is probably our second or third oldest.