A slow start to the Nest Box season, and CES 3.

On Thursday 16th May, Peter and Alan J checked progress at the Cathedine and shelterbelt boxes. A few broods of "tits" had started to hatch, and the opportunity was taken to catch (lift) the incubating female Pied Flycatchers, and some Blue Tits before more eggs start to hatch. Both Redstart and Great Tit are a bit more wary, and any disturbance (when still incubating), could cause desertion, so no attempt is made to catch these species. All six female Flycatchers at Cathedine were caught - one had been ringed at Cathedine as a breeding female in 2023, and 5 were new birds. Two Blue Tits were also lifted. In the shelterbelt just one Flycatcher has nested, previously caught at the same box in 2023, after having been ringed by Jeremy (as a chick at his colony Nr Crickhowell in 2022). The day total was Pied Flycatcher 5 + (2), Blue Tit (2).

The evening of Wednesday 22nd saw Andy doing a second tour of the Cwm Sorgwm boxes. Most females slipped off eggs or small chicks at his approach, with only a Great Tit brood approaching ringing size. Andy was able to make a good assessment of when the next visit should be made, but just single female Pied Flycatcher and Blue Tit were ringed.

On Friday 24th, Jerry had greater success at the shelterbelt and Cathedine boxes. Most of the "tits" and Pied Flycatchers had chicks that were too small to ring. It was starting to look like Blue Tits were not having a particularly successful breeding season - as some had already lost a few chicks, and others had not yet hatched their eggs. In contrast, two Great Tit nests (in the shelterbelt) had broods that were already a bit large to disturb (so were not ringed). Redstarts were also having a good year with 4 broods (3 at Cathedine, and 1 in the shelterbelt), and a total of 21 chicks ringed, a new day record for this species.

Andy was doing CES 3 on Saturday 25th, on what was a quiet morning with a catch of 10 + (6), the lowest since 2012 for CES 3. The CES catch was made up of Wren 1 + (1), Dunnock (1), Redstart 1, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird (1), Willow Warbler 1 + (1), Chiffchaff 2, Reed Warbler 1,
Blue Tit 1, Great Tit (1), and Bullfinch 1 + (1). In addition, a brood of 5 Blue Tit chicks were ringed in a rb1 box, and (1) adult was caught.

On Tuesday 28th, Jerry returned to Cathedine to ring two broods of Blue Tit (total 7), both of which had already lost some chicks. Other "tit" broods and all the Pied Flycatcher still had a bit more time until they would be old enough to ring.

The ringing totals for this blog post were adults - 17 + (11) and pulli - 33. Our total ringed in May was 56 and the YTD becomes 240.