A nice Reed Warbler control and late August ringing.

An unusual (westward) dispersal for juvenile Reed Warbler BDE0787, ringed at the jetty on 9 July and caught at the Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion on 25 July - 16 days, 96 km, 280 degrees.

Tuesday 26th saw an expected change from the high pressure weather (hot and sunny) to the more unsettled (wet and windy) as the remains of the latest storm crossed the Atlantic. Just Prior to the change, Jeremy (early start) and Jerry (from mid morning) arranged to ring at the jetty. Catching was brisk (the "Acros" mainly early morning, and the "Phyllosc" mainly in the afternoon) to end the session with an excellent 78 + (5). The mix was Robin 1, Cettis Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 14 + (2), Sedge Warbler 16, Chiffchaff 37 + (3), Willow Warbler 6, and Blue Tit 3. Chiffchaff equalled the previous max day total of birds ringed, and our 1,000th bird for August was a Sedge Warbler caught fairly early in the session. This total in a single month is not often achieved (just 6 times for August, and 1 for July), with most of these previous catches included a high proportions of Sand Martin.

The weather forecasts to the end of the month (with repeated fronts crossing the country), suggested limited ringing opportunities, but there was an improved spell of weather on Friday 29th, so Andy was at the Jetty and Jerry was in rb2. Their respective catches were 47 + (3), and 28 + (11). The mix for the day was Blackbird (1), Cettis Warbler 2 + (1), Reed Warbler 19 + (7), Sedge Warbler 18 + (2), Chiffchaff 26 + (3), Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 3, Blue Tit 4, and Reed Bunting 1.

During a very productive month, our August total was 1,132 birds ringed, making our YTD 2,347. This August total is our 3rd highest ever, behind 1979 when 726 Sand Martin made up over half the total of 1381 - July 1979 is our highest ever month when 1438 birds were ringed (including 954 Sand Martin!!). The other year that had a higher August total was 1985 when 255 Sand Martin (and 283 Willow Warbler - showing just how much things have changed) were ringed out of a total of 1176. As we have explained in previous blogs, this years Sand Martin catches have been considerably lower than this despite our best efforts.