We had a 5am start and dropped the nets, set in the dunes, in conditions that were really too windy for our liking. There were also clap nets in front of the ringing base.
Despite the less than favourable conditions we caught 95 birds, with just a Meadow Pipit coming from the clap nets. Highlights were 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Barred Warbler and a Firecrest.
One of five juvenile Yellow-browed Warblers
Juvenile Barred Warbler
Firecrest
Castricum ringing base
Resetting the clap nets
Meadow Pipit - 1
Robin - 4 (1)
Redstart - 1
Blackbird - 2
Song Thrush - 10
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 4
Barred Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 60
Yellow-browed Warbler - 5
Firecrest - 1
Reed Bunting - 2 (1)
The following day was less windy and rather warmer. Birds were frequently seen making their way south, most too intent on their journey to be tempted down to the clap nets. There were more birds ringed than the previous day, most coming from the first two rounds.
Juvenile Short-toed Treecreeper
3M Firecrest
Yellow-browed Warbler
Meadow Pipit - 8
Grey Wagtail - 2
Wren - 0 (1)
Robin - 7
Dunnock - 4
Stonechat - 1
Song Thrush - 10 (1)
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 114
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 5
Firecrest - 1
Short-toed Treecreeper - 0 (1)
Blue Tit - 1
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Jan said it was a shame the morning had been a bit boring, but there's no doubt that the catch beats Wraysbury, Stanwell or Broadwater hands down! We were rather surprised that the Cetti's Warbler (their fourth this year) caused more excitement than the Firecrest. But then we haven't had breeding Cetti's at Stanwell very long and they were not recorded there before 2009.
Many thanks to Jan, Arnaud, Cees, Andre and Piet for making us so welcome at Castricum and to Jan and his wife for their hospitality.