CES 12 and Jetty 14

On Sunday the 24th of August two sites were again in operation at the lake. In the garden the final CES of the year was completed by Peter J, Carola and Alan J, with Jerry (and Alan coming back and for) completing another Aquatic session at the Jetty as we entertained 7 visitors from the Gwent Ornithological Society. It was a very busy day with the total catch being the highest of the year at 101 birds.

Both Grswo photos, used with permission of Lee Parsons

Best bird of the day was a 4F Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Highlights in the Garden included a retrap Grswo which appeared to be carrying a 3JJ Wren that it had predated prior to getting caught in the net, a bumper catch of 17 Chiffchaff (23 over both sites) and a smart looking Blackcap and Nuthatch. Debate was had as to whether it would have been worth staying on for 2 more Chiffchaff and a new day max (currently 24 from 2009), but in the end Sunday Lunch won out!

A rather smart looking Male Blackcap

The Jetty was again quiet early on, building as the morning progressed and ending with a decent number of Sedwa, so maybe that Aquatic is still on it's way! The highlight for Jerry was a Water Shrew that kept running back and for in the vegetation near the end of the net lane. After the session Jerry went down to the reed bed to complete yet more work on the 'short boardwalk'.

Totals for the day were:

	CES	Jetty	Totals
Wren	2 (1)	1 (1)	3 (2)
Chiff	17 (2)	6	23 (2)
Wilwa	1	1	2
Goldc	2	-	2
Robin	2 (2)	2	4 (2)
Dunno	2	-	2
Nutha	(1)	-	(1)
Reewa	1 (3)	8 (3)	9 (6)
Sedwa	-	13	13
Blaca	3 (1)	-	3 (1)
Garwa	1	-	1
Bullf	6 (7)	-	6 (7)
Bluti	1 (1)	4	5 (1)
Sonth	2	-	2
Blabi	(3)	-	(3)
Grswo	(1)	-	(1)
Totals	40 (22)	35 (4)	75 (26)

With the Acro passage drawing to a close and the CES now complete for another year the next ten days or so will see a slight shift in focus towards the Garden site. The catch today seemed to show quite alot of promise for the main passage season for the Garden, of late August-late September, could we have a bumper Autumn of 2005 proportions, with maybe even another Paddyfield Warbler!?