Stonking Warbler Morning

Not a funny old morning this morning, but a stonking warbler morning based on the number and species we ringed at Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park. It was a 5.00 a.m. start for Ian and I, but well worth it. For the first couple of hours it was a perfect morning for operating mist nets; overcast and flat calm.

I'm not going to beat about the bush; we ringed 38 new birds and retrapped 8 as follows (new/retrap):

Reed Warbler - 7/2
Whitethroat - 14/5
Reed Bunting - 3/0
Lesser Whitethroat - 2/0
Sedge Warbler - 1/0
Great Tit - 3/0
Wren - 3/0
Willow Warbler - 3/0
Chiffchaff - 1/0
Blue Tit - 1/1

 Lesser Whitethroat

Reed Bunting

Reed Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Fault Bar on the above Sedge Warblers Tail

Whitethroat

The ringing was great but the birding between net rounds was poor. The best bird we had was a Green Sand that flew onto the 'shallow' pool and fed for an hour or so before moving on.

There was negative news on the roosting Swallows and as we put our nets up in the half light we couldn't hear the calls of any, so the roost has dispersed. We'll keep checking though in case it reforms.