CES 2 -Things looking better - 16/5/2014

Lets hope I'm not getting ahead myself but I would like to optimistically say that CES numbers are improving, and lets hope this trend continues. With such a good weather forecast we were out for the second CES session of the year. Dave, Cedwyn and Chris were at the pool for 05:30. It was a glorious morning made all the better for the sound of half a dozen Lapwing calling and displaying over the flooded dune slacks. Whilst the ringing was slow the numbers were up on last year and a quick look at the figures show that the numbers have only once been better in the last 10 years. I may be looking for bright lights in a dark tunnel as the differences are very marginal (I'll leave the stats to those that know how to differentiate lies from damn lies), but lets be positive.

 



The first round of the morning was rewarded with a handful of Long-tailed Tits(8), all juvenile. One was carrying a caterpillar that may have been located by the parents, which were seen hanging around the nets carrying food.



Amongst the first of the migrants extracted was a Reed Warbler with a wing length of 70mm.

Whenever we catch a reed warbler like this one with a wing length around the 70mm mark, the marsh/reed warbler debate starts up again. This individual with its rufous-tinted rump and poorly marked primary tips is clearly a reed warbler.





The very pleasant mornings totals: