CES 1

Sunday, May 7th 2017

It was the first of our twelve CES days today, so an early start, 0530.  Once the nets were opened they were checked regularly.

Checking the nets

At this time of year it is mainly male birds that are caught as the females are sitting on eggs.  Retrapped birds make up most of the catch as there are no young entering the population.  Today there were surprises as young of Robin, Song Thrush and Blackbird were ringed.

Juvenile Blackbird

Garden Warblers and Blackcaps (below) also made an appearance.

Blackcap

Information from IPMR showed that a Willow Warbler had made eight journeys to and from Africa, at least 40,000miles.  There was a Coal Tit and Robin that were at least six years old. 

Twenty two Willow Warblers were ringed and twenty three were retraps.  Ten new Siskin arrived in the ringing room but not a single Redpoll after many feeding in the back garden during the week.  A Brambling was passing through on its journey north and it had laid down fat reserves to help it on its way.

Results from the owl boxes have been very promising with broods of three to five healthy chicks and over 70 young and adults ringed so far.  There is a good small mammal population this spring.  More small holes than usual can be found at Foxglove so we have our fair share of little creatures.

Small mammal hole

And talking of males being the most obvious birds around, these male Mallard were all resting on the duck raft.

Male Mallard on the duck raft

Thank you to everyone who helped today.


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