August 8th - CES 10, and tape sessions at jetty & RB2

Thursday 8th August was about the only day of the week, when conditions were suitable for netting - a bit wet/breezy before, and forecast to be very wet/windy after. A good turnout had Alan L/Ron doing the CES, Jeremy at the jetty, and Andy/Jerry in rb2. Catching conditions were good, but with the sun starting to break through the cloud cover from mid morning. The CES was quiet, with just 19 + (6), but it left Ron time to do some nest box cleaning, and Alan a chance to do some preparatory drilling for our "new" wet weather cover at RB2. Ringing in RB2 also started quiet, but then picked up as some warblers started moving through, to end on 29 + (13). The highest catch (with the fewest nets, set for the shortest time), was at the jetty, with 38 new birds - including a young male Sparrowhawk, and our first Grasshopper Warbler of the year.

Species mix for the day - Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 1, Robin 2 + (1), Dunnock (1), Blackbird 1 + (1), Song Thrush 1, Cettis Warbler (1), Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 39 + (8), Sedge Warbler 15, Blackcap 6 + (1), Garden Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 5 + (2), Willow Warbler 7, Treecreeper (1), Blue Tit 4 + (3) and Reed Bunting 1.

The best sighting of the morning was also at the jetty, where a Hobby was seen in noisy pursuit of a Goshawk, the Goshawk later being pursued by crows over RB2.

Grasshopper Warbler

Sparrowhawk