Starling roost at Belvide
Wednesday 12th Nov, saw the team attempt to catch some of the large number of Starlings roosting in the reedbeds. There have been a lot of Redwing in the area --so we also put up a few nets to try for them. ( Last night we caught 8 Redwing and a Chiffchaff--a real taste of Summer and Winter together!)
General nets didn't catch many birds--but quality was there--one each of Redwing, Fieldfare and Kingfisher.
The reedbed was alive with Starlings and we caught quite a lot--but as often happens many escaped before we could get to them. However, we ended up with 16 Starlings, 14 Reed Bunting, and a Water Rail.
Although open to dispute, the feeling is that those Starlings in reedbed roosts are more likley to have come from 'wilder' eastern populations. The only way we will find out is by trying to catch as many as we can to increase the chance of some of them being recaught in their breeding areas--if only.....
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