Queenstown - the last few days of the trip

We are now back in Christchurch after our quick trip down South. Except for House Sparrows didn't catch a lot of bird. In order to avoid Sparrows I put nets up where I thought there weren't any one day. Didn't catch any Sparrows and not much else either. Also had a go at catching Californian Quail again but without success.

Combined totals for the 3 days are -
House Sparrows - 29 (9) I also let a number of recently fledged go unbanded. One of the recaps was banded 20 Sept 15, 3 days before the old bird caught a few days ago. So banded 3 days earlier and caught 3 days later it is at 1244 days from banding now the oldest recap of any species.

The old bird giving me a farewell peck.

Chaffinch - 4 (0)
Dunnock - 4 (0)
Silvereye - 3 (0) all nestlings from a late nest in the garden.
Song Thrush - 1 (0)
Tui - 2 (0) Both were newly fledged juveniles, 1 male and the other a female, probably from the same brood.

The young male

His head showing yellow gape

The female

Neither of them had any sign of a tuft