The morning of Sunday 25 July looked ideal for ringing, the only problem was that I had "dad duty" from 9 o'clock whilst my partner went for her last COVID vaccine.
I decided that an early 4am start would give me a few hours on Manor Floods, a site less than 5 minutes from my house. My 4-year-old twin son Isaac, decided that he wanted to join me. So we both set off into the first light.
Having not been at the site for 4 months I was greeted with waist-high grass. Given my time limitations and my son in tow, I decided just to put up just one 18m net across my favourite ride.
Obviously, Isaac was my lucky charm. That one net in just under four hours produced 19 birds, including 3 Grasshopper Warblers. Two juveniles and an adult male; the first Grasshopper Warblers caught by the group since 2018!
Total birds (new/retrap): Whitethroat 2/0, Willow Warbler 5/1, Grasshopper Warbler 3/0, Robin 1/0, Great Tit 2/0, Blue Tit 4/0, Blackcap 1/0
Alex
