CES 3 and boxes

Alan and Ron completed CES 3 on Thurs 26th May.  Ron checked some of the boxes later, while Alan went round the paths/net lanes with our new brushcutter - recently acquired with a Brecon Beacons Trust grant.  

The CES catch of 13 + (18) comprised - 

Robin 2 + (2), 

Dunnock (3), 

Song Thrush 1, 

Blackbird 1, 

Wren 1, 

Spotted Flycatcher 1, 

Blackcap (4), 

Garden Warbler 1 + (1), 

Sedge Warbler (2), 

Reed Warbler 1, 

Chiffchaff (1), 

Long-tailed Tit 5 + (1), 

Blue Tit (1), 

Bullfinch (1) and 

Greenfinch (2).  

The best record of the day, however, was probably the Stoat that Alan saw moving along the back fence between gn7 and gn4 (unfortunately no camera to hand).

Jerry returned on Fri 27th, to complete checking the boxes. There was reasonable bird variety in the shelterbelt boxes, but three nests in rb2 had been taken over by bees, and in rb1 there were four mouse nests.  Cathedine had better bird occupancy, including four Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher.  The total nestbox ringing (by Ron and Jerry) was - Pied Flycatcher 1, Redstart 2 + 8p, Blue Tit (1) + 5p and Nuthatch 7p.  

Before leaving, Jerry checked out all the usual Spotted Flycatcher sites in the Raikes' garden.  Despite looking as if it had started to put together a nest in one of our boxes, they had chosen an old site on top of the thermometer stand, where she is sitting on c/5.