RAS summary, recent recoveries & early September ringing

We had another very successful Reed Warbler RAS year, involving seven morning visits to rb2, and 12 visits to the jetty (six morning & six roost). In total, 40 adults were recaptured - (21 in rb2 & 19 at the jetty). The years in which they had been ringed were 2016 (2), 2017 (1), 2018 (4), 2019 (10), 2020 (5) and 2021 (18), with twelve of the 2021 birds ringed as juveniles.

Recent recoveries

- Pied Flycatcher Y996901 was ringed as a chick at Bryn, Longtown, Herefordshire on 30 May 2017, and was caught as a breeding female at our Cwm Sorgwn colony on 6 June 2022 - 1833 days, 17 km, 264 degrees (also caught there in 2021 breeding in a box 50m away from this years).

- Reed Warbler ABR5751 was ringed as a first year at Stanton St Bernard, Wiltshire on 4 August 2021, and was caught in rb2 on 27 July 2022 - 357 days, 115 km, 304 degrees.

- Reed Warbler ADT4822 was ringed as a first year at Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire on 11 August 2021, and was caught at the jetty on 26 July 2022 - 349 days, 179 km, 319 degrees.

- Sedge Warbler AKR1269 was ringed as a first year at the jetty on 11 September 2021, and was caught at Duizendmeterweg, Bentveld, Zandvoort, The Netherlands on 14 August 2022 - 337 days, 532 km, 86 degrees. This is only the second time that The Netherlands has featured in one of our recoveries.

We had a delayed start to our September ringing with a series of depressions crossing the country (giving a week of much needed wet weather). A change then brought a decent spell of suitable ringing weather, but unfortunately there was a slow start to Group members visiting. Andy was the first to  respond, on Saturday 10th he was at the jetty and had a very reasonable catch for so late in the season, with a total of 26 + (2), made up of Wren 2, Chiffchaff 3, Cettis Warbler 2 + (1), Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 13, Blue Tit 2 + (1), and Reed Bunting 1.

On Tuesday 13th, a run of visits to the garden was kicked off by George and Ron, who had an early start for a very productive 61 + (3), which included a Wood Pigeon (we rarely catch fully grown birds, as most escape from the net) and 32 Blackcap (only a few short of our current day max of 39). On Wednesday, Andy had a late afternoon/early evening session, it was a bit quiet but a useful 16 + (4) -main sps Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. On Thursday, Jerry (with help from Ed, a potential new trainee) had an early start, but it was a bit breezy with sunny spells later, and they had only a slightly better 18 + (3) - main sps Goldcrest, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. The combined details for the  three visits were - Wood Pigeon 1, Meadow Pipit 11, Dunnock 1, Wren (1), Robin 3 + (2), Chiffchaff  8, + (1), Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 39 + (1), Sedge Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Goldcrest 10 + (2), Blue Tit 2, Coal Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 2 + (1), and Bullfinch 3 + (2).

Not sure who is happier in this picture?