Late July - final RAS visits, more roosts, Barnacle Geese, CES 9 and another Canada Goose recovery.

A heat wave at the start of the period (with the highest ever UK temp recorded) prevented visits during the first week, but on Wednesday 20th a temp drop of nearly 20C was forecast, so Jerry and Madeleine (potential new trainee) completed a RAS visit to rb2. It was overcast (a very light shower when the nets were being put up), but became breezy from mid morning. Catching was steady, with good numbers of "Phyllosc" warblers. The catch ended on 50 + (9) with two more Reed Warbler added to the RAS. The mix was made up of Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Wren 2 + (2), Blackbird 3 + (1), Robin (1), Redstart 1, Cettis Warbler (1), Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff 13, Sedge Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 13 + (4), Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 4, Long-tailed Tit 1, Treecreeper 4, and Reed Bunting 2.

The next morning, Andy was doing a RAS visit at the jetty, but the reeds were wet and the sun came out by 06.00. He was disappointed (but not really surprised) by the low catch of 4 + (3), made up of 3 + (3) Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler. In the evening Peter and Andy tried another roost which looked promising with c1,000 birds, bur after a couple of low passes the birds roosted nearer to the car park (as usual). Their catch was just Blackbird 2, Sand Martin 2, and Swallow 1, and total for the day was 8 + (3).

Since early March, Mark Waldron has been checking the Barnacle Geese for colour rings, and of the 46 birds that we ringed last year, he has seen 45 of them back at the Lake - an excellent return rate,  i indicating high survival. His latest count (20th July) suggests that they have also had a decent breeding season - with 8 pairs breeding (or attempting to) and 14 goslings seen. On Saturday 23rd, a team of Group members (Andy, George, Jeremy, Jerry, Lyndon, Rachel, and Ron), plus friends Cheryl, Matt, Kane and Scott assembled. Our assessment had suggested a much lower risk of AI than with the Canada Geese, and after the recent heat it was overcast with a nice cooling breeze. The geese looked a bit more skittish than last year (not really surprising), and just before they were all penned, about 10 flew over the team (probably encouraged by some Mallard flying away. As the roundup was a week later than last year, adults would be nearer the end of their annual moult, and some of this year's gosling were fully winged. The total capture was 10 new (6 adults, 3 young, and a young Barnacle Goose cross), and 41 recaptures from last year, which suggests some of those that escaped would have been un-ringed.

The last week of the month saw a decent run of visits - Monday 25th, Jerry doing a jetty RAS but only three birds caught - Blackbird 1, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler (1) - "new" for the RAS. Although the showers held off, it was a bit too windy.

Tuesday 26th, Andy, George and Ron did CES 9, and the overcast start made for a early catch before the sun broke through around mid morning. They ended on a decent 39 + (8), well above the all time average for session 9 and the highest since 2014. The species mix was Wren (1), Blackbird 12 + (1), Song Thrush 1, Robin 1 + (2), Redstart 1, Chiffchaff 1 + (1), Reed Warbler 4 + (1), Blackcap 11 + (1), Goldcrest 1, Treecreeper 1 + (1), and Bullfinch 6. In the evening Peter, Alan J and Andy (having a long day) tried another roost, which was in the top 25 Roost catches in the history of the group (22nd) and the largest roost catch since 28/07/2004. A total of 112 + (3) was made up of Hobby 1, Sand Martin 100, Swallow 8, Robin 1 and Reed Warbler 2 + (3) = 2 "new" for the RAS and a control. The improved catch may have been due to intense Hobby disruption at the preferred roost location, or maybe to the cows that had been put into the adjacent field the previous day, moving into the reeds (to access water).

Wednesday 27th, Jerry and Madeleine were in rb2 for a final RAS visit. It was a cold wet start with relatively few birds moving, but improved when it warmed up and became overcast. The catch of 36 + (7) was made up of Wren 1 + (1), Robin 2 + (1), Willow Warbler 4, Chiffchaff 2, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 20 + (5) - incl one for the RAS and a control, Blue Tit 2, and Reed Bunting 2, - which included the 1000th bird of the year ringed.

Thursday 28th, another roost by the "same team" and a reasonable catch of 51 + (3) made up of Sand Martin 36, Swallow 4, Wren 1, Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 4, and Reed Warbler 3 + (3) - incl 2 more for RAS. 

Friday 29th, and a final RAS visit to the jetty by Jeremy. Despite his early start, the sun resulted in a low catch of just 7 + (2), made up of Cettis Warbler (1), Willow Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 3, and Reed Bunting 2 + (1). July ended on 526 ringed, making the YTD 1071.

Canada Goose 5287905 was ringed on 30 June 2019, and it died (just leg & ring found) at Builth Wells on 17 July 2022 - 1108 days, 27 km, 337 degrees