Last year I enrolled Lower Moor Farm in the BTO's constant effort site (CES) scheme. The principles behind the scheme are: that it runs over a number of years (minimum 4); nets are set in the same places each year in an environment that is largely unchanging; 12 sessions run between May and September, at approximately 10 day intervals; catching is done for the same length of time for each session. Those are the "constant" elements of the scheme. The idea is that any changes in the catch reflects changes in the bird population rather than changes in the local environment or the catching methodology. Today's session was the first of the 2016 CES. I was joined for the session by Jonny Cooper, celebrating his birthday by getting up at 4:00, and ringing his first Sedge Warbler.
The list for the session was: Treecreeper 1; Blue Tit (1); Great Tit 1(4); Wren 3(2); Dunnock 1(1); Robin 2(3); Song Thrush 2(4); Blackbird (1); Cetti’s Warbler 1(1); Sedge Warbler 2; Blackcap 11(2); Garden Warbler 4(3); Whitethroat 1; Lesser Whitethroat 2; Chiffchaff 1(1); Willow Warbler 2; Bullfinch 8(3); Reed Bunting 1. Totals: 43 ringed from 16 species; 26 retrapped from 12 species, making a grand total of 69 processed from 18 species.
The highlights were: the strong catch of Bullfinches, all in breeding condition; another two juvenile Song Thrushes; two each of Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, plus a Whitethroat and the new male Cetti’s. The retrapped Cetti's was a female. It had a very well developed brood patch, suggesting that it is brooding eggs already. As far as we can tell, all of the expected warblers are back on site now, except the Reed Warblers. Something to look forward to.
There was a volunteer work party on-site from one of the local schools after about 10:15. When the organiser saw that we were ringing she asked if she could bring the crew over and so, as usual, I did a short, impromptu ringing demonstration. It went well, with a lot of interest from the teenagers, once they got over the idea that birds are somehow "yucky". Afterwards, one of the work party helpers came over and told me that, following a previous impromptu ringing demonstration, he had been inspired to buy a bird guide, which he had on him, and start birding. Makes you feel all warm inside (and a nice boost to the ego). ST / JC