The weather was forecast to be reasonably settled for late August (after the remnants of hurricane Gert had passed through), so Jerry and Sophie kicked off a run of sessions in rb2 on Tuesday 22nd. The early start resulted in a Grasshopper Warbler before first light, and a second about an hour later (taking our year total above the previous max of 7 in 2002). Conditions were good (warm, calm with virtually no mist), and
the session ended on 36 + (6). Tree contractors were working on the rb2 ditch, cutting the trees/bushes so the ditch could be re-cast (periodic management for all of the BBNP ditches). Unfortunately, this will result in clearing the Blackthorn/Alder belt (where we have previously located a net to intercept the the warblers that were moving along this "hedgerow") - not so good for our ringing, but the ditch maintenance will be beneficial to other wildlife.
Jerry was keen to catch more Grasshopper Warblers, so he was back in rb2 on Thursday 24th. The day didn't start well - misreading the alarm clock, he was up at 03.00, so had time to watch "French Connection" before leaving home. He was in the reed bed by 05.15, and in the dark, unbalanced on the boardwalk to end up sitting in the water (could have been worse, it might have been deeper !!), and it took a few hours to dry out. On top of that, catching was slow (the first Acro not until 06.10), but it picked up later, with reasonable numbers of Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs, to end the session on 48 + (5). A quick look in at the hobby site on his way home, saw the brood very active and starting to branch.
On Saturday 26th, Andy and Jerry were in rb2, in ideal conditions - calm, high cloud and warm (no mist). The first bird (at 05.55) was the 9th Grasshopper Warbler for the year. They had a decent number of Reed Warbler (mainly in the middle of their PJ moult, so likely local birds), and a few Sedge Warbler/Chifchaff. The session ended on 47 + (7), and the first Black Tern of the autumn was seen over the Lake at 11.30.
On Monday 28th, Jeremy did rb2, so Jerry (helped by Lloyd Richards) had a change of scene at the jetty. Conditions were good, with a clear sky overnight, calm and warm, and only a light mist with "smoke" over the Lake. Catching was slow to start at the jetty, but better in rb2 with some early Sedge and a Grasshopper Warbler (probably due to the tape playing a bit earlier). Another bonus later on (for Jeremy), was a control (ringed elsewhere) Sedge Warbler. At the jetty, the highlight was a Hobby in the half light, hawking insects (not large dragonflies, judging by the speed it ate them), and later, a Great White Egret (first of the autumn) was on the east side. The sessions ended with 30 + (1) in rb2, and 23 + (6) at the jetty.
Some early morning rain on Wednesday prevented a visit, but on Thursday 31st, Andy and Jerry were back in rb2, where it was a cold (very noticeable after the recent warm mornings). The early catching was quiet, but picked up a bit when the sun came out, and it warmed, after 8am. The session ended on 37 + (10), the best of which was a retrap Cettis Warbler. It looked very much like a young bird (in PJ moult), but was growing its inner secondaries (so assumed that it had to be an adult nearing completion of its main moult). Checking later with Demongin, confirmed that, occasionally, young birds replace their inner
secondaries - and it had been ringed a couple of months previously, as a 3JJ.
The species mix for all of the reed bed sessions - Wren 4 + (5), Robin 3, Dunnock 2 + (2), Chiffchaff 43 + (5), Willow Warbler 5, Goldcrest 3, Cettis Warbler (1), Grasshopper Warbler 4, Reed Warbler 94 + (16), Sedge Warbler 44 + (2), Blackcap 2, Garden Warbler 1, Blue Tit 11 + (5), Great Tit 1, Treecreeper 1 + (1) and Reed Bunting 3.
Our August total was 744 ringed, making the YTD 1931. Corresponding YTD figures for 2016/2015 were 1653/2013 respectively, both years ending on 2600+ ringed.
the session ended on 36 + (6). Tree contractors were working on the rb2 ditch, cutting the trees/bushes so the ditch could be re-cast (periodic management for all of the BBNP ditches). Unfortunately, this will result in clearing the Blackthorn/Alder belt (where we have previously located a net to intercept the the warblers that were moving along this "hedgerow") - not so good for our ringing, but the ditch maintenance will be beneficial to other wildlife.
Jerry was keen to catch more Grasshopper Warblers, so he was back in rb2 on Thursday 24th. The day didn't start well - misreading the alarm clock, he was up at 03.00, so had time to watch "French Connection" before leaving home. He was in the reed bed by 05.15, and in the dark, unbalanced on the boardwalk to end up sitting in the water (could have been worse, it might have been deeper !!), and it took a few hours to dry out. On top of that, catching was slow (the first Acro not until 06.10), but it picked up later, with reasonable numbers of Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs, to end the session on 48 + (5). A quick look in at the hobby site on his way home, saw the brood very active and starting to branch.
On Saturday 26th, Andy and Jerry were in rb2, in ideal conditions - calm, high cloud and warm (no mist). The first bird (at 05.55) was the 9th Grasshopper Warbler for the year. They had a decent number of Reed Warbler (mainly in the middle of their PJ moult, so likely local birds), and a few Sedge Warbler/Chifchaff. The session ended on 47 + (7), and the first Black Tern of the autumn was seen over the Lake at 11.30.
On Monday 28th, Jeremy did rb2, so Jerry (helped by Lloyd Richards) had a change of scene at the jetty. Conditions were good, with a clear sky overnight, calm and warm, and only a light mist with "smoke" over the Lake. Catching was slow to start at the jetty, but better in rb2 with some early Sedge and a Grasshopper Warbler (probably due to the tape playing a bit earlier). Another bonus later on (for Jeremy), was a control (ringed elsewhere) Sedge Warbler. At the jetty, the highlight was a Hobby in the half light, hawking insects (not large dragonflies, judging by the speed it ate them), and later, a Great White Egret (first of the autumn) was on the east side. The sessions ended with 30 + (1) in rb2, and 23 + (6) at the jetty.
Some early morning rain on Wednesday prevented a visit, but on Thursday 31st, Andy and Jerry were back in rb2, where it was a cold (very noticeable after the recent warm mornings). The early catching was quiet, but picked up a bit when the sun came out, and it warmed, after 8am. The session ended on 37 + (10), the best of which was a retrap Cettis Warbler. It looked very much like a young bird (in PJ moult), but was growing its inner secondaries (so assumed that it had to be an adult nearing completion of its main moult). Checking later with Demongin, confirmed that, occasionally, young birds replace their inner
secondaries - and it had been ringed a couple of months previously, as a 3JJ.
The species mix for all of the reed bed sessions - Wren 4 + (5), Robin 3, Dunnock 2 + (2), Chiffchaff 43 + (5), Willow Warbler 5, Goldcrest 3, Cettis Warbler (1), Grasshopper Warbler 4, Reed Warbler 94 + (16), Sedge Warbler 44 + (2), Blackcap 2, Garden Warbler 1, Blue Tit 11 + (5), Great Tit 1, Treecreeper 1 + (1) and Reed Bunting 3.
Our August total was 744 ringed, making the YTD 1931. Corresponding YTD figures for 2016/2015 were 1653/2013 respectively, both years ending on 2600+ ringed.
 |
| Before |
 |
| After |
 |
| And a photo (from 2015) of the ditch net that won't be usable for a few years now! |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.