August Bank Holiday weekend

Saturday 29th started a run of decent weather, so all three sites were operated. The reed beds were "autumnal" - cold and wet with dew. Jeremy was at the jetty and caught just 8 birds (mainly Sedge Warbler), while Jerry was in rb2 for 17 birds (mainly Reed Warbler). The species composition wasn't the only difference - both started playing similar species calls at the same time, but their first birds (both Sedge Warblers) were caught at 5.30 and 6.20 respectively. One of the few Sedge Warblers caught, in rb2, was a hefty 16 gms, not the heaviest we've had but certainly up there with them (17th heaviest from over 5600 caught at the lake). Peter and Alan J were in the garden for a long session lasting until mid afternoon, with a good variety and a few "autumnal" species starting to show. Their catch of 43 + (13) highlighting the difference that tapes can make to the catch (cf the last two CES catches). The day total (our best of the year so far) was made up of Wren 1, Robin 4, Dunnock 1 + (3), Blackbird 1 + (1), Song Thrush 1, Chiffchaff 10 + (3), Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 9 + (2), Reed Warbler 11, Sedge Warbler 9, Goldcrest 4, Blue Tit 1 + (1), Coal Tit 1 + (1), Great Tit 1 + (1), Bullfinch 4 + (1), Goldfinch 5 and Siskin 3.

Another cold morning on Sunday 30th, and George was in rb2 for a respectable catch of 18 + (8), made up of Wren 1, Robin (1), Song Thrush 1, Cettis Warbler (2), Chiffchaff 4, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Reed Warbler 5 + (3), Sedge Warbler 3, Blue Tit (1), Treecreeper (1) and Siskin 2. In the evening, Andy was at the jetty for a catch of 15, made up of Swallow 4, Chiffchaff 7, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Blue Tit 1 and Long-tailed Tit 1.

Monday 31st was also cold, with a heavy dew, making the reed beds a bit miserable for the birds. With just a few days before the full moon, the couple of hours before first light were dark, and not conducive to night migrants dropping in. Jerry was in rb2, where it was very quiet, before the catching picked up a bit when the sun came out and it warmed up. He ended with a "below par" 14 + (3). Peter was in the garden, where he had a decent catch (also picking up when it warmed a bit), of 34 + (8) of a good variety. The day's catch was made up of Wren 2, Robin 2, Dunnock (1), Blackbird 3, Chiffchaff 15 + (2), Blackcap 2, Reed Warbler 8 + (2), Sedge Warbler 3 + (1), Goldcrest 5, Blue Tit 2, Coal Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 1 + (1), Nuthatch (1), Siskin 2, Greenfinch 1 and Bullfinch 1 + (2).

August ended with a respectable 635 birds ringed (about average for the last 10 years, following our highest ever August catch, of 1038, in 2010), bringing our YTD to 1376.