early July - roosts, RAS and CES 7

Despite the stiff breeze, Peter and Alan thought that Saturday 1st seemed the best option of the week to try a roost. As the reeds have still not fully grown, the nets had to be set lower than usual to benefit from the modest shelter that the reeds provided with the westerly wind. The "pre-roost" comprised just 6 + (2) Reed Warblers - (1) for the RAS, and 1 Chiffchaff. Despite good numbers of Swallow/Sand Martin (c1,500), the flock dispersed to roost elsewhere (maybe a more sheltered area of reeds) and there was no catch.

Sunday 2nd had the first decent spell of cloud cover for a while, so Rachel and Jerry were in rb2 for another RAS visit, here the reeds are reasonably sheltered by the alder carr from a westerly wind. Catching was steady throughout the morning, with two short busier periods when small groups of tits passed through - the numbers of Blue Tit suggesting they had a better breeding season than our box occupancy suggested. The catch of 43 + (9) was made up of Dunnock 1, Blackbird 1, Robin 2, Reed Warbler 13 + (8) - (2) for the RAS, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 4, Blue Tit 14, Great Tit 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Bullfinch (1), Goldfinch 1, Chaffinch 1, and Reed Bunting 2. The boxes were cleaned out and all chicks had fledged successfully. The Tree Bumblebees that had taken over an old Wren's nest (in a box near the ringing table) became active when it warmed up.

Thursday 6th saw Andy doing a 4th RAS session at the jetty. There was some decent cloud cover, with only a modest breeze (and a brief shower was not really disruptive), so the catch of 9 + (5) was a little disappointing, although he did ring our first Sedge Warbler of the year. Species details were made up of Reed Warbler 6 + (4), Sedge Warbler 1, Blue Tit (1), and Reed Bunting 2.

Following Carlton's wrist injury, George and Jerry undertook his CES 7 on Friday 7th. Despite the forecast for "wall to wall" sunshine, there was sufficient cloud cover to help with captures, and they finished on a well above average (for visit 7) and 4th highest of the last decade of 51 + (9). The mix was Wren 2 + (1), Robin 4 + (1), Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 6, Cettis Warbler (1), Reed Warbler 2, Blackcap 11 + (5), Chiffchaff 14, Willow Warbler 2, Blue Tit 1, Treecreeper 1, Greenfinch 4 + (1), and Bullfinch 2.

Peter and Alan J had few opportunities to try another roost (between juggling weather, work shifts and other commitments), but with the weather clearing up on Sunday 9th, they decided to try. Having set by 19:00 they hadn't caught anything until the light breeze (which didn't actually appear to be moving the nets that much) had completely dropped off, and the sun was low enough to drop below the horizon. A small "pre roost"flurry of (3) Reed Warbler - (1) for the RAS, 1 Chiffchaff, and 2 juvenile Cettis Warbler (with matching tail fault bars suggesting from the same brood). The weather was perfect - light breeze dropping to nothing, and warm/sunny after the wet weather earlier in the day. The Sand Martin flock immediately responded to the tapes, and quickly built up to a very conservative minimum estimate of 2000. A Hobby turned up quite early (with expectations of the roost being disrupted), but the Sand Martins didn't break up and disperse, but got above the Hobby and at times mobbed it. After about 20 minutes it made off quickly towards the church, having presumably made a kill. The Sand Martin stayed in a huge flock rather than splitting into the small parties so often seen following Hobby disturbance, and they came into the reeds early, and in large numbers. A couple of early "scouts" were being processed when the first big wave went into the reeds, filling the jetty net. It was clear that it was a big catch, and with large numbers still coming in, they went to the nets (much earlier than usual) to start taking the birds out, and their presence at the nets prevented even more being caught. The birds already in the reeds continued to attract others entering the roost, extending the roosting area, but few others were caught. A quick scan with the thermal camera later showed 100s and 100s of birds in the reeds around and beyond the net lane, with probably many more hidden behind the reeds. In addition to the above mentioned "pre roost" catch, the roost produced 120 Sand Martin and 1 + (1) Swallow (a retrap from the 2022 roosts).