Unsettled weather for mid September (remnants of various hurricanes crossing) limited opportunities to ring, but Jerry persisted with the scrub nets, hoping to pick up some Blackcap, or something more "interesting".
On Tuesday 12th, a catch of 16 + (5), the day's highlight was watching an Osprey (over the point), at midday.
On Thursday 14th, he had a late start (07.30), as overnight rain was not forecast to clear until then. The catch was a similar 16 + (1), and included a late Reed Warbler. After ringing, Jerry joined Andy (and others from the BBNP Management Group), to discuss proposals for the rb2 meadows (in the morning, management of the Cae Ty Mawr meadows was discussed).
On Saturday 16th, there were some early showers (not forecast), not really heavy enough to close the nets, but it needed continuous net rounds. The catch was affected (birds sheltering), and only 5 were caught in the first 3+ hours; but after 10 (when the sun warmed everything up a bit), Chiffchaff numbers picked up. The session ended on 15 + (4), with our Chiffchaff annual total now just topping 200.
On Sunday 17th, a change of personnel, with George and Ron ringing, but catching was still quite slow, though an improvement over recent sessions. Late in the morning, Ron, Andy and Jerry had another hour or so cutting willows in rb2. The recent rain had brought the water level up a few inches, so this could be the last opportunity to do any cutting. After lunch, Jerry took over ringing until mid afternoon, to end the session on 20 + (10).
On Monday 18th, Jerry was back in near perfect conditions, once the early mist had cleared. George had put up GN4a for the first time this year, and it caught a handful of birds (one of the day's better nets). As catching was slow, Jerry put a Goldcrest player next to GN4a, and the effect was immediate, and 24 were caught (most between 08.00 & 10.00). Despite a quarter of them being retraps, it was the highest number of Goldcrest the Group has ever ringed in a day. The session ended on a respectable 29 + (9), including 6 Chiffchaff, but only a single Blackcap.
Species breakdown for the five sessions - Wren 1, Song Thrush 7,
Blackbird (2), Dunnock 6, Robin 1 + (4), Chiffchaff 27 + (4), Goldcrest 25 + (8), Blackcap 14 + (3), Garden Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1 + (1), Great Tit (1), Long-tailed Tit 3 + (2), Goldfinch 7 and Bullfinch 2 + (4). Interestingly, despite "tits" (apparently) having a good breeding season, we have yet to catch a tit flock this autumn.
On Tuesday 12th, a catch of 16 + (5), the day's highlight was watching an Osprey (over the point), at midday.
On Thursday 14th, he had a late start (07.30), as overnight rain was not forecast to clear until then. The catch was a similar 16 + (1), and included a late Reed Warbler. After ringing, Jerry joined Andy (and others from the BBNP Management Group), to discuss proposals for the rb2 meadows (in the morning, management of the Cae Ty Mawr meadows was discussed).
On Saturday 16th, there were some early showers (not forecast), not really heavy enough to close the nets, but it needed continuous net rounds. The catch was affected (birds sheltering), and only 5 were caught in the first 3+ hours; but after 10 (when the sun warmed everything up a bit), Chiffchaff numbers picked up. The session ended on 15 + (4), with our Chiffchaff annual total now just topping 200.
On Sunday 17th, a change of personnel, with George and Ron ringing, but catching was still quite slow, though an improvement over recent sessions. Late in the morning, Ron, Andy and Jerry had another hour or so cutting willows in rb2. The recent rain had brought the water level up a few inches, so this could be the last opportunity to do any cutting. After lunch, Jerry took over ringing until mid afternoon, to end the session on 20 + (10).
On Monday 18th, Jerry was back in near perfect conditions, once the early mist had cleared. George had put up GN4a for the first time this year, and it caught a handful of birds (one of the day's better nets). As catching was slow, Jerry put a Goldcrest player next to GN4a, and the effect was immediate, and 24 were caught (most between 08.00 & 10.00). Despite a quarter of them being retraps, it was the highest number of Goldcrest the Group has ever ringed in a day. The session ended on a respectable 29 + (9), including 6 Chiffchaff, but only a single Blackcap.
Species breakdown for the five sessions - Wren 1, Song Thrush 7,
Blackbird (2), Dunnock 6, Robin 1 + (4), Chiffchaff 27 + (4), Goldcrest 25 + (8), Blackcap 14 + (3), Garden Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1 + (1), Great Tit (1), Long-tailed Tit 3 + (2), Goldfinch 7 and Bullfinch 2 + (4). Interestingly, despite "tits" (apparently) having a good breeding season, we have yet to catch a tit flock this autumn.
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