Now that the CES has been completed we ringed on the more sheltered area of Wraysbury. We wondered whether capture numbers might be better than our usual area as the blackberries are more extensive and in better condition than those growing on the area where weed killer has been used to try to kill off the vetch.
The numbers were about on a par with what we might have expected to catch on our usual area, but there was nothing especially unusual. As a bonus, we did catch a control Chiffchaff and Blackcap that was ringed earlier this summer at Stanwell Moor.
Juvenile Blackcap with aberant plumage showing particularly
well in feathers of the rump and greater coverts.
Totals: 71 (3)
Robin - 1
Wren - 1
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 5
Whitethroat - 1
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 51 (1)
Chiffchaff - 6 (1 control)
Willow Warbler - 2 (1)
Blue Tit - 1
8th September
We returned to our usual area of Wraysbury, deciding that we'd have a slightly later start than normal. On arrival there were hundreds of hirundines overhead, on some of the bushes and on the fence. Our plans to put six nets up in the usual places were immediately revised and a double and single were placed in the open with Swallow and House Martins playing. We then put up the three closest nets of our original plan.
The double began to catch and we then saw that all the birds coming in were House Martins. There was only the first capture and after that the birds moved higher and stopped coming to the nets. Half the catch came from the hirundine nets with the other half from the other three nets. It's always nice to break into triple figures.
This was a rare opportunity and two members of the other team from our group came over to get some experience of House Martin, in the hand.
House Martin aged 3
Lesser Whitethroat
Totals: 93 (8)
House Martin - 50
Robin - 1
Blackbird - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 1
Blackcap - 20 (1)
Chiffchaff - 5 (4)
Willow Warbler - 4
Goldcrest - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 6
Blue Tit - 1 (2)
Great Tit - 0 (1)