Attenborough CES - updates

CES Session 2 - 16 May

Mick T, Kevin, Gary, and I carried out the second CES in a break in the appalling weather we have been having this spring. Catching was steady throughout the morning with another new Song Thrush being caught and the first Garden Warbler of the year also processed. Birds overhead included Hobby and the first few flocks of Swifts.

Bird processed (new/retrap):
Wren 2/0, Long-tailed Tit 3/1, Robin 2/1, Garden Warbler 1/0, Blackcap 4/1, Great Tit 2/2, Blue Tit 3/0, Reed Warbler 1/0, Dunnock 1/1, Song Thrush 1/1, Blackbird 2/0, Treecreeper 0/1.


CES Session 3 - 23 May

A gap in the poor weather allowed us to get out to complete the third CES session. Catching remained slow throughout the morning with only 25 bird being processed. The variety, however, was nice with Goldcrest, the first juvenile of the CES sessions and another new feisty Jay being caught. The latter chewed through Alex’s fingers whilst both being extracted and processed – somehow more senior ringers felt that this would be a “good experience” for him!

Bird processed (new/retrap):
Jay 1/0, Blackbird 1/0, Great Tit 2/1, Blackcap 5/1, Reed Warbler 2/0, Blue Tit 4/1, Bullfinch 1/0, Chiffchaff 3/0, Wren 2/0, Goldcrest 1/0.

CES Session 4 - 31 May

Mick T, Kevin, Gary, and I made it out for the fourth CES. Despite the recent warm weather, most of the morning was quite cold and overcast, the cloud only lifted as we started to close the nets. Despite this, catching was steady for most of the morning, but only a handful of juveniles were caught. Given the poor spring this may be a portent of a poor breeding season, but only time and data will tell. Other birds included the first Cuckoo of the year heard and a Buzzard overhead.

Bird processed (new/retrap):
Blackbird 1/1, Dunnock 3/1, Blue Tit 3/1, Great Tit, 1/1, Robin 2/1, Bullfinch 1/0, Garden Warbler 1/0, Blackcap 1/0, Chiffchaff 4/2, Long-tailed Tit 8/4, Wren 1/1, Treecreeper 1/0, Cetti’s Warbler 0/1

Alex

Examining Blackcaps (A. Phillips)