RAS sessions coming to an end

The end of July sees our last RAS sessions (as the probability of migrant Reed Warbler passing through in August increases), and we are able to start playing "Acro" tapes at the jetty and in rb2. On Mon 25th, Jerry was in rb2 for a decent catch of 36 + (12). But when he tried the jetty on Wed 27th (before the management meeting with BBNP/NRW) it was very drizzly/showery/breezy and only 3 + (3) were caught (in about 3 hrs). The birding was better, with Red Kite, Kingfisher and Bittern (flying across the front of the bird hide to land in the corner of the reed bed).

Alan L tried a roost again in the evening, and had his biggest catch yet, though still only a modest 10 Sand Martin. The birds didn't come in until the light was fading (an earlier pass by about 15 birds flew over the nets), and although Starling were roosting nearby, none were caught. The evening ended on 13 + (1) birds, and one pony (when walkers left a gate open) - it looks like one of the nets will need to be converted to a "2 or 3 panel".

On Sat 30th, Jerry, Andy and Alice (potential trainee) were back in rb2, and had our 2nd best catch of 51 + (14), which included a recently fledged Cettis Warbler (that hadn't started its post-juvenile moult), an adult male Sparrowhawk, and a good variety of other species for Alice's first visit.

The combined species mix for all visits was 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Sand Martin, 2 + (1) Wren, 1 Song Thrush, (1) Blackbird, 5 + (3) Robin, 4 + (2) Redstart, 1 Cettis Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 + (1) Chiffchaff, 4 Garden Warbler, 9 + (1) Blackcap, 9 Sedge Warbler, 40 + (15) Reed Warbler, (1) Goldcrest, 4 + (2) Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 + (1) Treecreeper and 3 + (2) Reed Bunting.

adult male Sparrowhawk - the lack of any juvenile feathers (on lesser
coverts or rump), and orange tint to eye, suggest it was hatched earlier
than 2014

The next shower arrives at the jetty