SWINDON STW
The corresponding session last year was our lowest total of CES so todays total of 41 new and 33 retraps is not bad for what should be the quietest session of the summer. We processed a control Sedge Warbler (i.e. ringed elsewhere) and a retrap Sedge Warbler from 2011. Reed Warblers show good site fidelity and longevity and we retrapped five from last year, and one each from 2013, 2012 and 2010 but interestingly we have not yet retrapped any of the nestlings that Simon and I ringed in the area last year.
A Cuckoo called nearly incessantly and gave some lovely flight views but star of the day was the male Grasshopper Warbler that we ringed, it's interesting that it's not one of the breeding birds from last year. The male Cettis Warbler once again patrolled an area totalling a couple of hectares in his forlorn search for a mate. MP, PA, SW
Grasshopper Warbler 1, Cettis Warbler 0 (1), Reed Warbler 7 (9) , Sedge Warbler 3 (7), Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 3 (2), Linnet 2, Goldfinch 2, Greenfinch 4, Bullfinch 0 (1), Robin 4 (1), Dunnock 1 (4), Wren 1, Blackbird 1 (3), Song Thrush 4, Great Tit 1 (2), ,Long Tailed Tit 1 (1), Blue Tit 0 (2)
SALISBURY PLAIN (centre)
Having looked at the long range weather forecast we decided to get CES 3 done as soon as possible.
On arrival the un-paired Nightingale was still singing away to itself while the male at the other end of the site was keeping it quiet. A Cuckoo then started up and kept going the whole morning until we left. As this species is something of a rarity at this site we did not have the Cuckoo decoy with us so the nearest we got to catching it was by playing the call lure at it and watching it bounced from a standard mesh net.
The session was very slow with retraps outnumbering new birds. We did however catch a retrap Green Woodpecker originally ringed last year.
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Best of all we caught a new female Nightingale with brood patch from the territory of the silent male so hopefully this year we will have successfull breeding on the site.
We also caught a male Swallow comlete with mud all over its bill so is obviously a local breeder from one of the nearby artillery bunkers. A check of the bunkers resulted in the ringing of 2 broods of Swallow chicks, the first of the year along with many other nests with full or incomlete clutches. PD, GD
40 new, 45 retrap
Green Woodpeck (1), Swallow 1+10 pulli, Wren (2), Dunnock 3(3), Robin (1), Nightingale 1, Blackcbird (4), Song Thrush (1), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Whitethroat 3(4), Garden Warbler (4), Blackcap 7(10), Chiffchaff 1(5), Willow Warbler (1), Long Tailed Tit (2), Blue Tit 1(1), Great Tit 1(2), Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 4, Linnet 3(1), Bullfinch 2(1), Yellowhammer 2