North Wilts Group

22nd May 2017 - Swindon STW CES

 
This was a very interesting session for Reed Warblers because we ringed 9 new birds, processed 3 controls i.e. ringed elsewhere and we retrapped 10 birds that we have previously ringed. These local or same site retraps can be very interesting, especially considering these birds have been to Africa and back each winter. The retraps included 4 from 2013, 1 from 2014 and 2 from 2015 but one of the 2015 birds was even higher value because it was ringed as a nestling in the reed bed at the canal at Mouldon Hill which is about 2km away.
 
The total of 47 birds processed is terrible compared with the same session last year when we processed 80 birds, the disparity seems to be in the number of resident species caught including Dunnock, Wren and Robin.
 
I then capped the day off with a nesting safari across the downs during which I ringed 34 Tree Sparrow and 11 Blue Tit nestlings. Nesting success is currently not very good, I guess because of the dry weather. MP, SW, TL
 
Reed Warbler 9 (10), Blackcap 5 (1), Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2 (1), Chiffchaff 0 (1), Willow Warbler 0 (1), Long Tailed Tit 0 (2), Wren 0 (1), Robin 1 (1), Dunnock 0 (1), Blackbird 1 (4), Greenfinch 4