Early June ringing, incl CES visits 4 & 5, and our first RAS visit.

The first bird of the month was ringed by Jerry when he had a brief visit on Monday 2nd. A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the ground having flown into the conservatory window. After resting in a bag for a short time it became active, so was ringed and flew off strongly. Total ringed 1 (see comment for CES 4 ringing below).

George and Ron did CES 4 on Wednesday 4th, for what turned out to be our highest capture (so far) of this year's CES visits, and our highest ever visit 4 total (just). Few adult birds were caught with the majority being juveniles for a good variety of species. The catch of 49 + (7) as made up of Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 (probably siblings of Monday's bird), Robin 2, Dunnock 4 + (1), Blackbird 5, Song Thrush (1), Mistle Thrush 1, Cettis Warbler 1 + (1), Chiffchaff 6 + (2), Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 6 + (1), Garden Warbler 1, Great Tit 8, Blue Tit 3, Treecreeper 1, Chaffinch 4 (an additional bird was just starting to show scaly legs and was not ringed), Goldfinch 1, and Bullfinch 1 + (1). During the session, Jerry was at Cathedine for the final Pied Flycatcher nest - total 1 (adult male) + 6p ringed, making the day's catch 56 + 6p + (7).

Mistle Thrush!

Tuesday 11th saw the first (RAS) visit to rb2 by Jeremy and Jerry. It was a chilly, misty start, but when the sun began to break through at 8.00, a few birds started moving. It was only a modest (but useful) catch of 16 + (5), made up of Wren 4, Robin 1, Blackbird 1 + (2), Chiffchaff 2, Reed Warbler 3 + (2), Blue Tit 4, and Reed Bunting 1 + (1). RAS projects target a specific species to assess adult survival, and both Reed Warbler recaptures were ringed last year so will contribute to our RAS. No juvenile Reed Warbler were caught but when they fledge and start too disperse around the Lake margin, capture numbers will pick up.

CES 5 was undertaken on Sunday 15th (the start of high pressure after a rainy period), by Peter, Alan J, Ted and Ruth. There total catch slightly surpassed the CES 4 session (see above) at 53 + (8). Another session that was dominated by juvenile birds, and with a good variety of species. The mix was Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Robin 2, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 3, Song Thrush 3, Chhiffchaff 15 + (2), Blackcap 9, Garden Warbler 1 + (1), Goldcrest (1), Blue Tit 7 + (3), Great Tit 3, Treecreeper 2, Chaffinch (1), and Bullfinch 5. This was the third highest total for this visit and in sunny and not perfectly ideal conditions (but not bad either). A very good catch that was consistent for most of the session.