Halswell Quarry Thu 8 Aug. - A very good morning

We had a session at the Quarry Thursday morning which proved to be a successful one. We caught 47 birds of 7 species with 38 new and 9 recaps. It was a small team with Andrew having work commitment making him unavailable. It was a cold start with a heavy frost but warmed up rapidly once the sun came up to be a very pleasant morning. We were joined late morning by George who banded with me in Wellington several years ago. He was on his way to help with the clean up on the West Coast and had a few hours in Christchurch. It was great to catch up with him.

George managed to band a few birds

Today's Team, Eleanor, Kenny, Phil, Jan and our scribe Sandra. Ron joined us later with his new Lab. A smashing young pup.

Species caught were - ( recaps in brackets)
Blackbird - 2 (0)
Song Thrush - 2 (1) this is the biggest catch we have made of S Thrush at the Quarry in a session and the first one recaptured.

Eleanor banding one of the Song Thrushes.

Dunnock - 1 (0)
Chaffinch - 1 (0)
Greenfinch - 2 (0) with the numbers about I thought we might have caught more.
House Sparrow - 6 (1)
Silvereye - 24 (7) all the recaps had been banded in the last few months.