2017 - First RAS visit and CES 5

On Sunday 11th June, Jerry was at the Lake to prep the rb2 net lane, and made a quick visit to do some late boxes (at Cathedine), ringing 1 ad Pied Flycatcher, and a brood of 5 chicks. On Tuesday evening, he and Carlton set up the jetty, and in the short time the nets were up, caught 1 + (1) Reed Warbler. On Wednesday morning, Sophie and Jerry completed the first RAS session in rb2, and had a respectable catch of 26 + (18), comprising Wren 1, Robin 4, Blackbird 1, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 7 + (10), Blackcap 3, Garden Warbler (3), Blue Tit 7 + (2), Treecreeper (1), Bullfinch 1 + (1) and Reed Bunting 1 + (1). The catch made a good start to our Reed Warbler RAS with nine of the retraps eligible, having been ringed in 2016 (5), 2014 (2), 2013 (1) and 2012 (1).

On the 15th Peter visited to undertake CES 5.  An above average start in terms of birds per round was perfectly manageable and a couple of decent birds early on included a freshly fledged Marsh Tit and a second male Spotted Flycatcher of the year. Then during a very light spell of drizzle there was a net round of 28 birds and although it contained a family party of 7 Juv Great Tit the rest of the round was a mix of all sorts of other species including the highlight of the day, the groups 6th Grey Wagtail, with previous singles in '78, '81, '82, '86 and '08. After the huge net round, all the nets continued to catch, including a female Spotted Flycatcher with an active brood patch as the last bird extracted of the day, keeping Peter busy right up until the nets were closed. Another highlight was catching a Juvenile Cetti's Warbler, always nice to have them as confirmed as breeding at the Lake.

Peter's initial impression was that it looks to have been a good breeding season so far, with lots of youngsters of various species being caught, 13 Chiffchaf, 10 Blue Tit, caught as a trickle all day as opposed to the 7 Great Tit caught in one net at the same time. It was also noticeable, as Jerry had indicated, just how much bird activity there was in the garden area compared to the corresponding CES visits in the last 5 or so years, despite the catches in some of those years not being far short of this years catch.

Totals were:

Chiff	13	(1)
Treec	1	-
Lotti	1	-
Goldc	-	(1)
Robin	4	(3)
Dunno	-	(3)
Blaca	4	(1)
Spofl	2	-
Marti	2	-
Bluti	10	-
Greti	7	(1)
Cetwa	1	(1)
Grewa	1	-
Reewa	1	-
Bullf	-	(1)
Blabi	3	(1)
Sonth	-	(1)
CES total	50	(14)

Also Ringed were 4 Wren chicks who were in a shed in an open topped nest, making them accessible to ring, which is rare with Wrens!

6th Grey Wagtail caught by Llangorse Ringing Group