Whooshed Jay

I am starting to feel more confident in the use of the Whoosh net now I am catching a few birds. It is a good method for larger birds which there is little chance of catching in a Mist Net. I had several Blackbirds coming to the feed but decided not to catch them and wait to see what would happen if I left the net undisturbed for a longer period and was rewarded with a lovely Jay. Unlike a Mist Net you have to sit and watch the Whoosh Net waiting for a bird to come onto the feed and then trigger the net. The waiting can be long so patience is required.

The bird had very long primaries at 194 mm and the 5th Tail feather 40mm down from the tip was 29mm wide and the bright blue GC suggested it was an adult male.