Yesterdays trial was a great success with a couple of highlights. The ring number above (D787769) was a control Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scripaceus) age 4. If anyone recognizes the ring number, please let me know. The recapture data will be submitted to the BTO in the usual way.
Another highlight was the first Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) to be caught on the reserve, an adult male. It will be nice to catch a juvenile later in the year to prove breeding.
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| Cetti's Warbler,
© Nigel Judson
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The more common birds often bring up most surprises. Yesterday we caught two Treecreepers (Certhia familiaris) one with a brood patch, not only the first that we had caught on the reserve but the volunteer warden had only seen one on the reserve in the previous 20 years.
It was also nice to catch the first juvenile of the year. Not surprisingly a Robin.
Here are the totals, New/Retrap :-
Blackbird 0/1
Blackcap 2/0
Blue Tit 1/2
Cetti's Warbler 1/0
Chiffchaff 5/1
Great Tit 5/0
Long tailed Tit 4/0
Reed Bunting 5/0
Reed Warbler 5/2
Robin 1/0
Sedge Warbler 3/0
Song Thrush 2/0
Treecreeper 2/0
Willow Warbler 1/0
Wren 1/1
We also the checked the progress of a Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) colony. This year all the nest boxes are occupied except for two, that have been taken over by Bumble bees. The nests are at the hatching stage and I will ring the chicks when large enough. Each box will have two broods, sometimes three, in the season. At the end of the season all the data gathered will be submitted to the Nest Record Scheme of the BTO. At the same site swallows usually nest in the garage, this year we have three nests occupied with eggs in.
Looks like a bumper year in Charnwood.
