Back in Queenstown - the first few days.

We have packed up and made the move to Queenstown where we will be living for the next 5 months or so. The move went well except I managed to stuff up my back and will be on light duties for the next 6 weeks or so. Over the last few days I have managed to fit in a bit of banding despite the back problem. Bird numbers appear to be down a bit since our November trip, especially Song Thrush, Redpoll and Silvereye.

Have managed to catch 65 birds of 11 species with 41 new and 24 recaps. Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)
Blackbird - 2 (2)
Song Thrush - 1 (0)
Starling - 2 (0)

One of the Starlings had an overgrown top bill

Dunnock - 1 (7)
House Sparrow - 26 (10) most were caught in a net set over the fence from the neighbour's hen run.
Chaffinch - 1 (3) the new bird was banded after it flew into a window and stunned itself, appeared to make a complete recovery.
Greenfinch - 1 (0)
Goldfinch - 5 (1) all 5 new birds were nestlings from a nest in an apple tree. The recap was one of these birds just after it had fledged.

Silvereye - A nestling Goldfinch with its new bling

Redpoll - 1 (0)

The Redpoll was another bird with an orange poll

Tui - 1 (0)
Silvereye - 0 (1)