Recent recoveries and late September at the Lake

Canada Goose was ringed as an adult on 24 June 2018, and was shot at Lugg Bridge, Hereford on 20 September 2025 - 2645 days, 42 km, 70 degrees.

Reed Warbler BDE1289 was ringed in rb2 as a young bird on 21 August 2025, and was caught at Chew Valley Lake, Bath and NE Somerset on 6 September - 16 days, 80 km, 147 degrees.

Chiffchaff RPX150 was ringed as a young bird in rb2 on 6 August 2025, and was caught at Court Farm, Dorset on 26 September - 51 days, 150 km, 151 degrees.

The middle of the month coincided with another storm crossing the country, and the next opportunity for ringing was Friday 19th, with Andy at the jetty in the morning and Peter/Alan J doing a roost there in the evening. Their respective catches were 18 + (1) and 10 + (3). The year catch for Reed Warbler (606) just bettered our previous top year (when Anna/Rob were monitoring the breeding population for her PhD study). Cettis Warbler had a very good breeding season with the year total (at 36) being double our previous top year.

A spell of more settled weather arrived on Sunday 21st, so on Monday Jerry had a late start in the garden (to allow time for the +4 temp to rise a bit). He had a decent catch of 21. On Tuesday 23rd, Jeremy had an earlier visit (with Jerry completing) for a very similar 21 + (6), while on Wednesday 24th Andy's catch (Jerry completing again) was an increased 23 + (9), with the cloud cover presumably improving the catch size. His star bird for the month was the Group's second Firecrest to be ringed.

The combined mix for the three sessions was Wren 1, Dunnock 2 + (2), Blackbird 1, Robin 2, Cettis Warbler 1 + (1), Blackcap 11, Chiffchaff 17 + (1), Goldcrest 21 + (5), Firecrest 1, Blue Tit 2 + (2), Great Tit 2 + (1), Long-tailed Tit (2), Siskin 1, Goldfinch 2, Bullfinch (1), and Reed Bunting 1

On Friday 26th, Jerry had a late morning start (waiting for the forecast cloud cover to arrive). In a short session to mid afternoon he had caught just 14 + (4), made up of Wren 1, Chiffchaff, 5, Goldcrest 2 + (1), Blue Tit 1 + (1), Long-tailed Tit 3 + (2), Nuthatch 1, and Siskin 1.

Jerry was back on Monday 28th and it was cold (+3.5 deg) and misty, but not long before the sun broke through for the morning . Catching was slow (affected by sun on the nets), and he ended with just 8 + (1), almost half of which were on the last net round. The mix was Robin 1, Blackbird 1 + (1), Chiffchaff 4, Goldcrest 1, and Bullfinch 1.

During the month we ringed a total of 306 birds - we have only managed 300+ during September 4 times in the last 20 years, and our YTD becomes 2653 ringed.