Large areas of reed were completely flattened but it is growing well |
Helen's Hide- around where the Yellow Wagtails roost later in the year was particularly hit. The reed screens disappeared and as can be seen the reed around the hide just gone.
Helen's Hide area |
Back to the ringing. It was a steady morning with 5 Cetti's Warblers trapped in the withy nets. Four re-traps and one new bird.
Cetti's Warbler ringed in 2012 |
Several Chiffchaffs were ringed. Willow Warblers were calling but none were trapped.
Chiffchaff |
Deep in the withy bed a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling but it too did not venture into the run of mist nets. As the morning warmed up things slowed a little but on hearing and seeing a pair of Bullfinchs it was a delight to extract the male shortly afterwards. Not a common bird here and probably only a dozen or so birds ringed since 1995.
Luke will probably do a Gib update later this week but there is one bird which is always a treat to catch there. A fine and often feisty Woodchat Shrike
Ringed on Gibraltar last week - not the Swannery! |