Another Warbler Fest

Ian and I ventured forth for another 4.30 a.m. start at the Nature Park this morning in attempt to catch and ring some more Acros. As was the case yesterday a number of Swallows were exiting a roost on site as we put up our nets. I counted 250 flying around shortly after first light and I am guessing that there are probably 5-600 birds roosting.

We managed to trap 34 birds of 9 species for ringing as follows:

Reed Warbler - 19
Sedge Warbler - 2
Whitethroat - 6
Swallow - 2
Blackcap - 1
Dunnock - 1
Blackbird - 1
Wren - 1
Reed Bunting - 1

Blackcap

Reed Bunting

Reed Warbler

We half expected a lot of retraps from yesterday but we only caught 3, so obviously there was a good turn over of birds. We were hoping to make it three mornings in a row but the forecast for tomorrow is for drizzle/light rain.

A quick look on the pools after we packed up revealed 6 Little Grebes, 82 Herring Gulls, 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 20 Coots.