early August, first reed bed tape sessions, roosts and CES 10

The unsettled weather from late July continued into August, but Tuesday 1st was decent mist netting weather. As the RAS period had ended, it was the first opportunity to play tape lures, with Jeremy at the jetty, and Jerry (joined later by George) in rb2. Jeremy had an early (4.30) start and his catch was a reasonable 21 + (1), which was hampered by the breeze billowing the top panels of the nets. Jerry had a later (6.45) start which was "busy" for the first couple of hours, before George arrived. Their catch was an excellent 53 + (7), maybe helped by one of the mp3 players going through the full repertoire of song, rather than repeating Sedge Warbler. The day total was 74 + (8), made up of Wren 1, Redstart 1, Blackbird (1), Cettis Warbler 2 (incl a first young bird to be caught in rb2 this year, though several have been caught at the jetty), Reed Warbler 25 + (4), Sedge Warbler 18 (incl some with a decent fat score of 30/40, and weighing 13 gm), Chiffchaff 16 + (2), Willow Warbler 2 + (1), Blackcap 5, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, and Treecreeper 1. Early on in the session (07.20), our 1,000th bird for the year was ringed - a Chiffchaff in rb2. George then checked two local Barn Owl boxes (not occupied), but did see a (ringed) Spotted Flycatcher feeding fledglings, an additional family group to the three other pairs known to be in the local area.

Forecast good for Friday 4th, but a chilly N wind was blowing the jetty nets (Andy), but a bit more sheltered in rb2 (Rachel & Jerry). At the jetty, the catch was just 8 + (2) in 3 hours, but most were Sedge Warbler. In rb2 a decent 42 + (4), not as "busy" as the previous visit but steady through the session. The day catch was made up of Dunnock 1, Cettis Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 19 + (3), Sedge Warbler 13, Chiffchaff 9 + (2), Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 5, and Blue Tit (1). A few Small Copper in the church/rb2 fields, the first Giant Puffball making an appearance under the yew tree, and Wax Moth taken over rb2-5 nestbox (following occupation by Wren and Tree Bumblebee).

Sunday 6th had another decent forecast, but the shower at 08.30 took them by surprise (needing deployment of the umbrella), and the breeze increased beyond the expected level. Despite this, Jerry and Jake had a decent catch, in fact it was Jake's first "real ringing session" as previously he had concentrated on becoming proficient in handling the birds. The rain from Saturday meant that the reeds (and the boardwalk) were still wet, so there was little early movement, and the catch ended on 29 + (5). On Monday, Jerry returned for another session but it was misty, and the reeds were wet and cold, with little movement til the sun started to break through at 8.00. The catch was another 29 + (5), and although there was less variety, it was compensated for by two Sedge Warbler controls (ringed somewhere else). The species composition for the two visits was Wren 1, Redstart 1 (a fine young male just completing his PJ moult), Cettis Warbler 1 + (2), Reed Warbler 23 + (3), Sedge Warbler 15 + (3), Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 12, Willow Warbler 3, Blue Tit 1, and Treecreeper (2).

Since the August reed bed tape sessions have started, there have been relatively few captures of re-trapped (already ringed) Reed Warblers, maybe suggesting that most of the Lake breeding/reared birds have left, and the new birds now being caught are migrants passing through. Three rb2 sessions have produced 57 new and just (10) recaptures. Most of our recoveries are of birds ringed at the Lake and caught elsewhere, and our database only holds 5 records of birds ringed elsewhere and caught at the Lake only a few weeks later (which might suggest breeding/natal areas). These birds came from Lancashire, Manchester, Dyfed, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Peter and Alan J also decided to resume jetty roosts on the evenings Sunday 6th and Monday 7th. The Sand Martin flock size had reduced a bit (but still a respectable 1,000), and the catches were an average 41 + (2) on 6th and a poor 13 on 7th - though it did include a Sparrowhawk. The Sparrowhawk and visitors to the site seemingly impacting the catch on the latter date. The combined species mix for the two sessions was Sparrowhawk 1, Sand Martin 36 + (1) (a bird ringed on the same date in 2022), Swallow 2, Reed Warbler 7 + (1), Sedge Warbler 2, and Chiffchaff 6.

On Wednesday 9th, Alan L and Ron (joined by Jerry late on), had a misty/wet start to CES 10, but it it was mainly overcast and calm so the catch of 10 + (8) was disappointing (though comparable to the 2022 total of this session), and well below average. The mix was Wood Pigeon 1, Wren 1, Robin 1 + (2), Dunnock (2), Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1, Reed Warbler (1), Blackcap 3 + (2), Blue Tit 1 + (1), and Bullfinch 1.

A photo taken on the way to the lake by Alan showing perfectly the twin problems that are usually encountered at this time of year in CES10, A misty start followed by clear sky and sun on the nets!