Nightingales at RNAS Merryfield

[roger dickey]

Continuing to survey the bird life of this excellent training facility where I have made myself bird member of the new conservation group, I headed out just after 5am in near freezing conditions to re-count the singing Nightingales. There are now clearly, 4 males at the south site and 4 males at the north site - more than have ever been recorded here before.

Just happened to have a few mist nets on me and so started catching the usual Blackcaps and Chiffs. Frozen fingers forgotten as the first male Nightingale went into the net and a new ringing tick!

Christopher joined me with his girlfriend, once the day had warmed up, and a second Nightingale obligingly went into a second net. Jubilation!

Now I need a Turtle Dove!