Broadwater GP - 28 August 2014

A damp start to the day with heavy cloud cover forecast until at least 11am tempted us, accompanied by MRB and Margaret, back to the lake edge to try for Swallows again. On arrival many Swallows were feeding around the canopy of a large tree out on one of the nearby islands, and feeding above the lake surface, and it was looking promising with some 300 or so birds present. We put up three nets, enduring a spell of heavier rain that was short lived and had stopped by the time the first two nets were up. We erected the third and began playing for Swallow.

There was some interest from the birds but most remained at the far end of the lake, the end where we usually ring but have no lakeside or sufficiently clear areas to attempt captures of hirundines. We had just caught our first bird, a Reed Warbler, when the clouds began to lift, and with them the hirundines. It was no longer favourable conditions for catching Swallows so we took down and relocated to the usual ringing location. By now it as after 10am and catching was slow. There were a few warblers and Blackcap were the most frequently caught species today.

 4M Blackcap

 3M Blackcap

We managed 14 birds, processing the last a second Reed Warbler at 1.30pm.

Total: 14

Wren - 1
Dunnock - 1
Blackcap - 5
Reed Warbler - 2
Willow Warbler -1
Chiff-chaff - 2
Blue Tit -1
Great Tit - 1