Holme Pierrepont, Sunday 9 June

An overcast sky with a slight breeze awaited Duncan, Tom, Alex, Gary, Nabegh and I at Holme Pierrepont yesterday. It was good to see Nabegh safe and well, I'm sure most of the group have been concerned about him whilst he was in Syria.

It took a while to erect the nets as some of the rides had grown over despite our clearance efforts in the spring. Water levels were still high so the end nets of the runs into the reeds could not be erected unfortunately and the 'campers' and all their associated trash were still around.

However a good catch was made including juvs of resident species and warblers. We ended on 75 of which 63 were new. All the usual warbler species were caught except Chiffchaff. Unusually no returning Reed Warblers were caught; they were mostly new birds. The only two we did catch wearing rings were a British control and a French control. Other interesting retraps were a Cetti's from 2012 and a Green Woodpecker from 2009. We decided not leave any poles on site because of the campers.

Kev

All photos by Gary Goddard. The caterpillar is that of 'The Drinker' moth.