Early May & recent recoveries

CES 2022 starts.

The first session for the new CES season was undertaken by George and Jerry on Monday 2nd May. This was the Group's 42nd year of CES, and a promising start in perfect (ringing) weather, after a few weeks of sun and breeze. The catch was our highest ever for the first session, just beating two recent years when we had 44. The catch of 22 + (23) had a good mix of residents and migrants - and was made up of Wren (2), Dunnock 1 + (1), Robin (2), Song Thrush (2), Blackbird 2 + (2), Redstart 2, Cettis Warbler 1 + (1), Chiffchaff 2 + (7), Willow Warbler 3, Blackcap 5, Garden Warbler 3 + (1), Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit (3), Great Tit 1 + (1), Long-tailed Tit 1, and Bullfinch (1). The second CES session was completed by Carlton and Jerry on 14th, and in strong sunshine it was a fairly average catch (for CES 2) of 5 + (19). Most of the local breeders have now been caught, and un-ringed birds will only really increase when the young start to fledge - just 1 juvenile Robin on the day. Details of the catch were Wren (2), Dunnock (3), Robin 1, Blackbird 1 + (1), Redstart 1, Cettis Warbler (3), Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap (1), Garden Warbler (3), Reed Warbler (1), Blue Tit (3), Goldfinch 2 + (1), and Bullfinch (1). A quick scan of the point as Carlton/Jerry were leaving revealed a good selection (5 species) of wader.

Two pristine male Restart were among the highlights of CES 1. 

During early May our various nest boxes has their first checks, and occupancy was high (only a few boxes without nests), except for the rb1 boxes. Most nests had part clutches, with only a few birds incubating. Blue Tits were outnumbered by Great Tit, which is the reverse of the norm, and other species highlights for each of our nest box "colonies" were -

shelterbelt - Nuthatch and Redstart;
rb2 - 2 Redstart;
Catherdine - 6 Pied Flycatcher;
rb1 - just one active Great Tit nest;
Cwm Sorgwm - 6 Great Tit and 4 Pied Flycatcher.

By mid month some incubating birds had been ringed (3 Blue Tit and 1 Pied Flycatcher), and although a few eggs had hatched, the young were not yet old enough to ring (this will have to wait another week or so).

Canada Goose 5275712 (4) was ringed on 28 June 2015, and had its ring read at the Lake on 10 April 2022 (Mark Waldron) - 2478 days

Canada Goose 5284578 (4) was ringed on 24 June 2018, and had its ring read at Newport Wetland Reserve on 3 May 2022 - 1409 days, 49 km, 156 degrees

Sedge Warbler AKR0360 (4) was ringed (by Andy) on 3 August 2021, and was caught at Trunvel, Tregat, Finistere, France on 19 August 2021 - 16 days, 477 km, 190 degrees

Blackcap AKR1364 (3M) was ringed (by George) on 19 September 2021, and was caught at Fordhall Farm, Nr Market Drayton, Shropshire on 8 May 2022 - 231 days, 119 km, 25 degrees