More rb2 ringing and final CES

After some heavy rain overnight, which continued through Sunday morning, George was back in rb2 on the Bank Holiday Monday (27th August). His catch of 20 + (5) was helped by some late session Chiffchaff, responding to the "tape". On Tuesday, Jeremy caught 34 + (5), with some early session Sedge Warblers, and he also had some late Chiffchaff, though his star bird was a recently fledged Spotted Flycatcher. On Wednesday, Jerry had 21 + (6), the session was unusual with an absence of any Sedge Warblers (despite there being a decent number of Reed Warbler still about). Details of the three days were Wren (2), Robin (2), Reed Warbler 33 + (10), Sedge Warbler 10, Blackcap 6, Chiffchaff 16 + (1), Willow Warbler 4, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Blue Tit 3 + (1) and Reed Bunting 2.

Also on Wednesday 29th, Ruth and Peter were doing our final CES for the year. A respectable 42 was the second highest visit of the year and well above the long term and recent averages for visit 12. It was also only the 5th total of over 40 birds from visit 12 in 38 years of CES ringing, so not a bad session at all! Non bird highlights of the session were a fox, who looked in great condition, carrying a prey item towards the shelterbelt and a 30cm grass snake on the wood path just before the GN 4/5 gate. Bird highlights included 8 first year Blackcaps, a couple of which were carrying some fat reserves (indicating passage birds?) and decent numbers of the two common thrush species, although there were an awful lot more around than were caught.

The species breakdown for the CES was as follows:

Chiff 3 + (3)
Wilwa 2
Robin 1 + (3)
Reewa (1)
Blaca 8 + (1)
Garwa 1
Goldf 3
Bluti 2 + (3)
Bullf (2)
Sonth 1 + (1)
Blabi 3 + (4)

Total 24 + (18)