Queenstown - A bit of variety

Although dominated by two species there has been a bit of variety in banding over the last few days. Eleven species were caught during sessions near the house and one at the stream site. A total of 67 birds caught with 52 new birds and 15 recaptured. The House sessions were dominated by House Sparrows and the Stream session by Redpolls.

Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)
Blackbird - 2 (0)

One of the Blackbirds had a very tatty tail and probably has trouble steering.

Song Thrush - 1 (0)
House Sparrow - 16 (11)
Dunnock - 3 (0)
Greenfinch - 2 (1) this is the first Greenfinch recaptured here so at a mammoth 17 days is the oldest for the species.

The Greenfinch recap.

Goldfinch - 2 (0)
Chaffinch - 2 (1)
Redpoll - 22 (0) mostly juveniles but a sprinkling of older birds.

One of the older Redpolls, a well coloured male.

A "Golden Crowned" Redpoll

Yellowhammer - 1 (0)
Silvereye - 1 (1)
Bellbird - 0 (1) the second Bellbird banded here and now the oldest for the species.