CES and another Canada Goose recovery

Tony has just submitted our CES results to the BTO (our 35th year of doing CES).  We had a total of 311 captures, the lowest since 2008.  The adult capture of 132 individuals, is about average for the period since 2000 - the highest for this period was 157 in 2004.  The total of young birds, however, confirms our general feeling that it was not a good breeding season for most species. A total of just 131 first year birds is only the second time, in our CES history, when this total has been less than the adult total.  This figure can be converted to 99 per 100 adult birds, and only 2001 (92) has been lower.  The species which seemed to have had a more successful breeding season (adult total/first year total) are - Robin (4/16), Song Thrush (3/8), Blackbird (8/11), Chiffchaff (10/27) and Reed Warbler (7/12).  All but Reed Warbler are multi brooded species, so are better able to "try again" after a failed breeding attempt.  Reed Warbler is not particularly well monitored by our CES, as the scrub/garden areas are not prime habitat for this species.  Its figures may be a reflection of young birds being more inclined (than adults) to wander from the reed bed habitat post fledging.

A recent Canada Goose recovery has just been received - 5257630 was ringed as a gosling on 5 July 2009, a fresh leg/ring was found at Raglan (Monmouthshire) on 11 October 2016 - 2655 days, 36 km, 122 degrees.