September - last jetty sessions & garden taping starts

Our August ringing total was 529, making the YTD 1646. September got off to a prompt start, with a "roost" visit to the jetty on Sunday 1st (our first of the year, and much later than it ought to be). In the early evening Jeremy and Jerry had good views of two Hobby hunting dragonflies over the western reed beds. Closer to roost time, about 40 Swallow (with a few Sand & House Martin) were looking as if they were ready to drop in, when a Hobby scattered them, and only one was caught. With a few warblers caught pre-roost, the evening catch was just nine. Andy did a morning session on 2nd for a decent catch (considering rhe late date for reedbed ringing) of 18 + (4), including our first Whitethroat of the year.

The species totals for the "overnight" effort was Swallow 1, Wren 3, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 3, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap (1), Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 6 + (2), Sedge Warbler 7, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 2 and Reed Bunting 1 + (1).

There then followed a period of blustery/showery weather, so the opportunity to start some maintenance work was taken. On Monday evening, Alan L strimmed the scrub net lanes, and checked the playback system, ready for our autumn tape sessions (nice evening view of the point by Alan L above, no wonder so many people like visiting). On Wednesday Alan J, Andy, Jeremy, Peter and Jerry made a good start on cutting the willow encroachment in rb2. On their way across the field, Andy and Jerry flushed a very late Cuckoo (from the copse on the rb2 ditch), and later in the morning, the group were treated to a "family" of Hobby calling from the alder wood.

The first full weekend had settled weather, so on Saturday, Jerry (with early help from Rachel), started the "Blackcap season". The first round was promising, with 16 birds (12 Blackcap), but it soon got quiet, before picking up again later in the morning. The session ended on 44 + (5), but Andy returned in the late afternoon/early evening, to boost the day catch by another 14+ (4). In contrast, Sunday was cold and misty, for Rachel/Jerry. An early Blackcap was the only bird until the mist cleared three hours later (when two birds caught), and they opted for an early finish.

Species mix for the garden - Wren 2 + (1), Robin 5 + (1), Dunnock 2, Chiffchaff 12 + (3), Blackcap 22 + (3), Marsh Tit 1, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 3, Long-tailed Tit 4 + (1), Nuthatch1, Treecreeper 1, Chaffinch 1 and Bullfinch 3.