mid September

Some occasional spells of wetter weather during mid month meant that catching effort was more limited. On Saturday 11th Jerry was at the jetty and Peter/Alan J were in the garden, conditions were good but a bit of a easterly breeze was blowing the top panels of the jetty nets. Jerry had a catch of 19 + (3) comprising mainly Reed and Sedge Warblers (more of the latter), but the star bird was a young Yellow Wagtail, a species not caught at the Lake since 2006. The garden nets were kept open until midday and resulted in 36 + (9) captures of a better species variety with Chiffchaff/Blackcap the main species, and two more Meadow Pipit in the "pipit trap". The mix for the day was Wren 2, Robin 3, Meadow Pipit 2, Yellow Wagtail 1, Cettis Warbler (1), Chiffchaff 11 + (4), Garden Warbler (1), Blackcap 8, Reed Warbler 7, Sedge Warbler 11 + (1), Goldcrest (2), Treecreeper 1, Blue Tit 6 + (1), Great Tit 2 + (1) and Bullfinch 1 + (1).

The first Yelwa for 15 years!

Andy tried a late afternoon/early evening at the jetty on Tuesday 14th, but it was quiet and he caught just seven birds - Chiffchaff 4, Reed Warbler 2, and Reed Bunting 1.

Jerry was in the garden on Wednesday 15th for a misty start and the sun not breaking through until about 09.30. Catching was slow (and got slower), until the sun warmed up and the next round produced a third of the total catch. The nets were then in the sun and he ended on 21 + (9), made up of Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren (1), Robin (1), Blackbird (1), Chiffchaff 12 + (1), Blackcap 6 + (3), Goldcrest 3, and Blue Tit (1).

On Thursday 16th Peter, Alan J and Ruth tried a final roost, but caught just 5 birds (only one hirundine) and the following morning Jeremy had an early start to ring 16. The species mix for the "over-nighter" was Swallow 1, Wren 1, Robin 1, Chiffchaff 2, Reed Warbler 5 + (1), Sedge Warbler 2, Blackcap 5, Blue Tit 1 + (1), and Reed Bunting 1.

On Saturday 18th Jerry was in the garden with Lloyd Richards (visiting trainee) for a decent catch of 23 + (4) - Wren (2), Robin 1 + (1), Chiffchaff 9, Blackcap 7, Goldrest 4, Great Tit 1, and Bullfinch 1 + (1).

The forecast for Sunday 19th was for overnight rain clearing at 7am, so George planned to arrive then - only to discover that the rain had already passed through during the early hours. His catch was 9 + (1) made up of Robin 1, Chiffchaff 2, and Blackcap 6 + (1).