RAS visits 8 (Jetty and RB2) and more recoveries

On Sunday the 21st Andy had made an evening RAS visit to the Jetty, the total of 7 birds seems disappointing on the face of it. But a Reed Warbler carrying a French ring certainly made the visit more than worthwhile, details will follow when we have them. The totals for this brief evening visit were: Reed Warbler 3 + (3) and Reed Bunting 1.

Peter thought that the forecast for Wednesday the 24th of still conditions and cloud cover looked the best for the week, with the weather heating up afterwards, so planned a visit to RB2. The problem with this plan became apparent when the forecast thunderstorm broke over his house late Tuesday evening and while it was the most spectacular for some years it proceeded to keep him awake for a large proportion of the night!! When he arrived at the lake at 5.45am he could still hear the thunder in the distance but the cloud cover and still conditions looked promising. By 6.30 however he was feeling very sorry for himself, he hadn't slept well, the sun had already burnt through the clouds and the soaking vegetation and wet, slippery boardwalk had "taken him out" multiple times while he set the nets.

However he needn't have worried, the catching was steady all morning, despite the nets being in the sun most of the day and in the end he turned in a good total of 28 + (15) which most importantly included two more Reed Warbler adults for the RAS. The other highlight was a second Marsh Tit for the year following one at a garden feeding site back in January. The totals for the session were as follows: Treecreeper 1 (2), Wren 2, Willow Warbler 2 (1), Chiffchaff (1), Long Tailed Tit 2, Reed Warbler 16 (6), Reed Bunting 1 (1), Robin 1, Marsh Tit 1, Blue Tit 1 (3), Cettis Warbler (1), Dunnock 1.

As Peter was taking down the nets a Mallard hit the top of one of the nets that was still set and gave Peter a massive shock! It didn't hang around long enough to be caught. After the session Peter cut the net lane back to ensure the vegetation didn't get high enough to interfere with setting the nets at the next visit. Hot work in the 28 degree temperatures.

We controlled Pied Flycatcher Z105347 twice in May (see here), and have caught her again (in the garden), on 9 June 2019.
Reed Bunting S910901 was ringed at Chew Valley Lake on 24 March 2018, and we have caught her twice (in rb2) on 18 & 27 June 2019 - 460 days, 80 km, 327 degrees. This record is useful in adding to our knowledge of where birds might winter and breed.