Ringing started at Chew Valley Lake in 1963 and the first report was produced by the Mendip Ringing Group covering the years 1962-63. Our ringing area is mainly reed bed with some scrub. Between April and September we normally catch good numbers of Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers and a varying number of other species such as Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler plus the normal residents which now include Cetti's Warbler. We get a good passage of migrants and there is plenty of chance to see stages of moult. We also attempt to catch hirundines at roost.
If you wish to enquire about membership or have any other query please email us at ringing@cvrs.fsnet.co.uk in the first instance for details.
A RINGING COURSE will be held at CVRS Friday from 30 July to Sunday 1st August 2010, click here for details.
The 2009 Chew Valley Ringing Course
The 2009 course was held over three days from mid day Friday 31st July until Sunday 2nd August, mid day. The water level this year was not as high as it had been in the last two years despite the July rainfall, enabling us to set nets in the reed beds without too many problems, although the routes to the net sites were quite muddy (due to the record breaking) July rainfall. This meant that we should have little difficulty in catching our staple diet of Reed Warblers and indeed we didn't.At 1230 on Friday when all those attending had found their way to the Ringing Station, we adjourned for lunch, which was taken at a local pub. This allowed everyone a chance to start to get to know each other. Then back to the station at two thirty for an introduction to CVRS and the Course. Six people, 3 male and 3 female attended the course.
Ringing started on Friday afternoon in area C at around 3 p.m. A reasonable number of birds were caught, including a few House Martins and after an evening meal around 7.30 the day ended with an attempt at a roost catch, unfortunately the target species, Swallows and Sand Matins, were conspicuous by their complete absence. Saturday's operations were interrupted intermittently by rain that did not completely clear until 4 p.m. but the visiting BTO representative Mark Grantham gave us an interesting talk on Moult strategies after lunch.
Ringing had started using an alternative area from that used on Friday namely our area A but switched back to area C in the late afternoon, but enough birds were caught to keep every one working hard. Ringing stopped and nets were furled just after 7 pm. and the evening meal was taken. The meal was followed by a second attempt to catch Swallows at roost and tapes were deployed. Unfortunately, once again the hoped for birds failed to turn up resulting in a nil return! Resulting for some with an unscheduled trip to another local hostelry!
Sunday's ringing was again carried out on net sites adjacent to the ringing station Area C. The use of this area again resulted in a larger catch ratio of retraps to new birds than we would normally expect. Nets were furled at midday, and lunch was taken, Lunch was followed by informal chat with each course member by the trainers' panel and a successful course then dispersed.
The weekend achieved totals of 260 New birds and 150 Retraps of 32 species, compared with the 462 New birds and 102 Retraps of 31 species caught on the 2008 course. A couple of decent roost catches would have made up the numbers. Considering the delays caused by the intermittent rain and the total lack of any roost catch these were reasonable totals. With lots of post juvenile moult occurring plus adults in various plumage states, everyone was kept busy. The catering was once again of a high standard thanks to Val and Sue, so everyone undertook their homeward journeys in a well fed state!
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