The evening was just how an evening in early August should be. Light wind, bathed in sunshine and with just the slightest of breezes to take the edge off the warmth. The prospect of a decent roost was promising, and the hirundines were totally relaxed and not in the least bit spooked by a hint of interest paid by a single Hobby as it flew, high, across the lake.
The session started with a cast of assorted warblers that trickled in and kept us occupied until roosting time. Chiffchaff CNB965 (4F BP4) became the first Chiffchaff to be recorded at the site for two consecutive years.
We then caught our largest number of hirundines in one evening for the year. The total may be small in comparison to other roosts but between disturbance from aircraft that depart directly above the site (and put birds off - well no one sleeps under a flight path by choice) when the wind direction is wrong, or right, depending on your point of view and off putting attention from aeriel predators at dusk, we are always grateful to find more than a few birds in the net once the group has gone in. The first adult Sand Martins and Swallow of the year were among the catch.
Totals - 22 (3)
Reed Warbler - 3
Chiffchaff - 2 (1)
Blackcap - 3
Garden Warbler - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 0 (2)
Robin - 1
Swallow - 7
Sand Martin - 5
The session started with a cast of assorted warblers that trickled in and kept us occupied until roosting time. Chiffchaff CNB965 (4F BP4) became the first Chiffchaff to be recorded at the site for two consecutive years.
We then caught our largest number of hirundines in one evening for the year. The total may be small in comparison to other roosts but between disturbance from aircraft that depart directly above the site (and put birds off - well no one sleeps under a flight path by choice) when the wind direction is wrong, or right, depending on your point of view and off putting attention from aeriel predators at dusk, we are always grateful to find more than a few birds in the net once the group has gone in. The first adult Sand Martins and Swallow of the year were among the catch.
Totals - 22 (3)
Reed Warbler - 3
Chiffchaff - 2 (1)
Blackcap - 3
Garden Warbler - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 0 (2)
Robin - 1
Swallow - 7
Sand Martin - 5