CES11 - 18th August – Carlton and Andy

Although the forecast was not perfect for Thursday morning, it seemed the best option, compared to what was promised for the following days.  The morning started, as predicted, with light rain while the nets were put up, and showers persisted until about 08.30am. Thankfully the second half was dry with sunny spells. They recorded that the weather possibly affected the first half of the session, and the slight increase in the catch during the second half (which is normally the quieter period), supported this view. 

The final catch was relatively low, with the only bird of note being a young Spotted Flycatcher (not from one of the ringed broods, and suggesting another nest was not found).
The variety of birds caught would have been greatly enhanced were it not for two notable escapees!. A young Magpie in GN2 managed to get away from Carlton just before it was secured; and while Andy was returning from GN7, he heard a commotion and turned the corner to see a Tawny Owl in the far end of GN4  which shuffled out of the end of the pocket on his approach.

The session catch was 15 + (6) made up of:
Wren 1 + (1), 

Blackbird 1, 

Song Thrush (1), 

Dunnock (1), 

Reed Warbler 1 + (1), 

Blackcap 3, 

Chiffchaff 3, 

Spotted Flycatcher 1, 

Great Tit 1 + (1), 

Treecreeper (1), 

Goldfinch 3 and 

Bullfinch 1

We have previously had a catch of 21 (for CES 11), three times, but have also had six lower catches - the lowest, just 10 birds,  in 1985  and 2008.  The highest catch for CES 11, was 93 birds in 2010.