CES 12 and late August catches.

The forecast for Sunday 23rd August wasn't particularly good, but was the best of a five day period, so Peter/Alan J/Ted decided to do the final CES, and Jerry (with Alan/Ted making frequent visits) was taping in rb2. The CES catch was well below the recent average (but only a few below the "all time" average), for this session. The total was 18 + (5), made up of Wren 1, Robin 2 + (1), Dunnock (1), Blackbird 1, Song Thrush 1, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 3 + (1), Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, 
Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit (1), Great Tit 1, Goldfinch 1 and Bullfinch 4 + (1). The reed bed produced 29 + (2), made up of Dunnock 2, Chiffchaff 3, Cettis Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 15 + (2), Sedge Warbler 4, Blackcap 3 and Blue Tit 1.

The next possible "ringing window" was the evening of Monday 24th, which saw a decent team (Peter, Alan J, Carlton and Jerry), meeting for another roost attempt. A group of Chiffchaff were caught soon after setting the nets, but "hirundine" numbers were down on previous visits (maybe only 100, mainly Sand Martin). There made just two passes, before the birds disappeared to roost elsewhere (as on the previous visit). The evening ended with 16 birds ringed - Swallow 4, Chiffchaff 10, Reed Warbler 1 and Blue Tit 1. An attempt to catch the local Tawny Owls, attracted four birds, but none made it into the net. Carlton and Jerry were hoping to visit after storm "Francis" had passed through, but dawn on Wednesday was still very windy, and they decided to postpone.

Thursday was much better, and in the hope that the winds might have carried some birds, leaving the eastern Baltic area, straight to Llangorse !!, Carlton/Andy were at the jetty, and Jerry was in rb2. There were very similar catches at the two sites - 29 new at the jetty - the best of which a Grasshopper Warbler (their first bird at 05.50), and 26 + (4) in rb2 - which included another juvenile male Cettis Warbler. The mix for the day was Robin 1, Chiffchaff 10, Willow Warbler 3, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Cettis Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 27 + (1), Sedge Warbler 6, Blackcap 3 + (1), Blue it 1 + (2) and Long-tailed Tit 2.