early June - Pied Flycatchers, CES 5 and a recent recovery

The weather at the start of the month was quite changeable, with bands of rain moving through. On Saturday 4th the rain was due to clear the Lake around midday, so Jerry took advantage of a bright afternoon to check the PFs. At Cathedine he ringed 6 broods (29p) plus 7 + (1) adults, while at the shelterbelt, there was a single brood (5p) plus 1 + (1) adults. Adding up the total afterwards proved to be a new day record for PF. The two recaptures were both males that had been ringed in rb2 - one as an adult in 2018, the other as a chick in 2021. However, the best record Jerry had was watching a male and female Roe Deer at Cathedine - initially under the oak trees, before retreating into the woodland.

With more rain on Sunday, there was forecast to be a couple of dry hours (late morning/early afternoon) on Monday 6th, so George and Jerry checked the PFs at Cwm Sorgwm. They ringed 5 broods (29p) and caught 6 + (4) adults. Three of the recaptures were ringed at the site - two females a few weeks earlier (when they were incubating), and a male from 2021. The other bird was ringed at Longtown (Hereford) in 2017, and was previously caught at the site in 2021. These two nest box sessions, together with the occasional females caught previously, make it our highest ever Pied Flycatcher year, surpassing the previous best year (2005) when 56 were ringed.

George & Jerry had the use of a tractor to get around the Cwm Sorgwn boxes - photo George

Editors note: Not sure which of the two is of an older vintage, although at least Jerry has had some repair work done (on his knee!)

CES 5 was completed by Peter and Alan J on Tuesday 14th, in mainly sunny conditions. They had a respectable catch of 28 + (14); with good numbers of juveniles starting to show. The mix was Wren 3 + (1), Dunnock 1, Robin 5 + (2), Redstart 1, Chiffchaff 1 + (5), Willow Warbler (1), Cettis Warbler (1), Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 5 + (1), Goldcrest 2, Marsh Tit 1, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit (1), Long-tailed Tit 2, Nuthatch (1), Goldfinch 1 and Bullfinch 1 + (1).

The catch was well above average and pleasing considering the mostly sunny conditions. The occasional cloudy spells contributing far more than their fair share of the catch.

Female Redstart

Juvenille Marsh Tit.

Great Tit ARF2069 (5F) was ringed Nr Rhayader on 25 October 2020, and was caught during Andy's "winter feeding project" on 26 February 2022 - 489 days, 42 km, 168 degrees. This is the 2nd longest movement the Group has had for a Great Tit. if you discount one we caught in the 1990s? when the BTO assumed we must have misread the ring because of the "exceptional distance" it had moved. But several other Great Tit have moved similar distances since and have been reported in the BTO's annual ringing report. Maybe its time to think about resubmitting our record (given the present knowledge of the species' movements).