Ouch!!

Had forgotten just how much that hurts!  Had the first trip of the year to our Hawfinch feeding site with Jane and Dave Smith this morning. Sadly there wasn't that much Hawfinch activity yet but we did catch this un-ringed, adult, male along with 4 Nuthatch, 23 Coal Tit, 11 Great Tit, 5 Chaffinch and 3 Blue Tit.

We also met-up with the local Forest Manager on site to obtain a key and for him to see what we were doing. This was a great opportunity to discuss the long-term management of the wood for the benefit of what is clearly a nationally important population of Hawfinch. Apparently the directive from above is now for general reversion of broadleaf woods to native Oak woodland, which would effectively remove most of the food supply (hornbeam & beech) and undoubtably lead to a reduction in numbers, if not the total abandonment of the wood! Hopefully, now that the importance of the site has been clearly demonstrated, this can be reviewed.  As BT would say, "It's good to talk"!