Late August reed bed taping, CES 12, garden taping starts.

Monday 21st was forecast to be perfect weather, following an unsettled weekend. And so it turned out with no mist (just some dew) and overcast/calm (until a breeze from 9.30) conditions. Jerry had a reasonable catch of 29 + (6), made up of Wren (1), Cettis Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 10, Reed Warbler 6 + (2), Chiffchaff 10 + (2), Willow Warbler 2, and Treecreeper (1). During the morning, the farmer completed mowing the field, so no more getting wet trousers before you even get to the ringing site !. With luck, the new growth will not be sufficient for the cows to graze before we are due to finish at this site in just a couple of weeks.

Another good forecast for Thursday 24th saw Carlton at the jetty - very quiet with just 5 + (1), and Jerry in rb2 - very quiet for the first hour before picking up a bit to end on 25 + (3). The mix for the day was Wren 1, Robin 1 (a relatively tame juvenile which had been hanging around the table for a week or so, now sporting a bit of bling), Reed Warbler 10 + (1), Sedge Warbler 4, Chiffchaff 6, Blackcap 4, Garden Warbler 1 (a late bird), Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 2 + (2), and Reed Bunting (1).

Sunday 27th was good ringing weather, despite the brief spells of drizzle. Andy was at the jetty for 15 new birds, incl all Reed & Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaff 3 and Willow Warbler 1. Peter and Alan J (later joined by Jerry) were doing the final CES visit and had a well above average (the second highest ever, second only to the record catch of 62 in 2014) for visit 12 of 36 + (16). They had one round of c20 birds, and the session mix included the third Wood Pigeon of the year, the Spotted Flycatcher, all Goldcrest & Blackcap plus most of the Chiffchaff. They continued beyond the CES session (using tapes) for a small additional catch of 3 + (5). The day total of 54 + (21) was made up of Wood Pigeon 1, Robin 1 + (2), Dunnock 1 + (1), Blackbird 4 + (2), Wren 2 + (1), Reed Warbler 6, Sedge Warbler 2, Blackcap 6 + (3), Chiffchaff 14 + (5), Willow Warbler 2, Goldcrest 2 + (1), Spotted Flycatcher 1, Blue Tit 7 + (3), Long-tailed Tit 4, Nuthatch (1), and Bullfinch 1 + (2)

A late Spotted Flycatcher

Rain in the early hours made for a wet morning in rb2 on Monday 28th, with the trees dripping until 9.00 (and umbrella needed), but a decent catch for Jerry and Jake of 26 + (5). The main species were Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Jeremy was at the jetty the following morning, with better conditions before a mid day shower arrived, and a catch of 16 + (5). His main species were similar - Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Chiffchaff, and the species mix for the 2 sessions was - Blackbird (1), Cettis Warbler 1 + (1), Reed Warbler 13 + (4), Sedge Warbler 10, Blackcap 4, Chiffchaff 8 + (2), Willow Warbler 1, Blue Tit 3 + (1), and Reed Bunting 2 + (1).

Cettis Warbler

Wednesday 30th saw George in rb2, and Jerry (joined by Louise - potential trainee) in the garden for a quiet morning. The catches were remarkably similar, both in number and main species. George had 17 + (3) and Jerry/Louise 16 + (3) - both mainly Chiffchaff with only single Blackcap at each site. The mix comprised Wren 1, Blackbird (1), Reed Warbler 4 + (1), Sedge Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 19 + (1), Willow Warbler 2, Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit 2 + (1), Treecreeper (1), and Bullfinch1 + (1).

During August 589 birds were ringed, bringing our YTD 1571.