Despite our CES, and CES's across the country producing poor numbers, Whitlingham was as usual, nice and busy. It was our first session 'post breeding' and we were shocked by the amount of ride clearance that was necessary as we put up the nets. The amount of rain this summer has produced plant growth like I've never seen before down there - literally (the proper use of the word literally)10ft high nettles, 12ft high umbelifers and bramble patchs that have grown several feet higher than normal years - one things for sure, its gonna be a good blackberry year!
Anyhoo, to the birds. 9 nets (410ft of net) produced 115 birds - 99 new (damn we should have stay on for 5 more minutes, or not dropped that chiffchaff... Will) and 16 retraps (a couple of which were caught and ringed, as it happens, exactly a year ago (5/7/11). Sorry too busy and nothing of particular interest to photograph.
Retrap History
Whitethroat - one ringed as a 3J (juvenile of that year) in 2011
one ringed as a 4 (adult) male in 2011
one ringed as a 4 female in 2011
3 more ringed in 2011.
Dunnock - one ringed as a 3J in 2010, caught again in 2011
one ringed as a 4 male in 2008 (4 times), then twice in 2011
one ringed as a 4 in 2011
one ringed in 2011
Totals
Anyhoo, to the birds. 9 nets (410ft of net) produced 115 birds - 99 new (damn we should have stay on for 5 more minutes, or not dropped that chiffchaff... Will) and 16 retraps (a couple of which were caught and ringed, as it happens, exactly a year ago (5/7/11). Sorry too busy and nothing of particular interest to photograph.
Retrap History
Whitethroat - one ringed as a 3J (juvenile of that year) in 2011
one ringed as a 4 (adult) male in 2011
one ringed as a 4 female in 2011
3 more ringed in 2011.
Dunnock - one ringed as a 3J in 2010, caught again in 2011
one ringed as a 4 male in 2008 (4 times), then twice in 2011
one ringed as a 4 in 2011
one ringed in 2011
Long-tailed Tit - 2 ringed in 2011
Great Tit - caught as a 4 in 2010
ringed in 2011
Blackcap - 2 ringed in 2011
Totals
| Full grown | Retraps | Total | |
| Wren | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Dunnock | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| Robin | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Song Thrush | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sedge Warbler | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Whitethroat | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Blackcap | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| Chiffchaff | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Willow Warbler | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Long-tailed Tit | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Marsh Tit | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Blue Tit | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Great Tit | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Linnet | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Bullfinch | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total: | 99 | 16 | 115 |
