News from Chew Valley Ringing Station

January 2012
We tried a repeat visit to the orchard at Bishop Sutton, but this year only trapped a small number of birds (unlike last years' 100 or so). The owner had swept up most the fallen apples so there was little to attract the birds in.

Back at the ringing station we had a quite interesting month with many wire traps in use. Here are a few highlights from the total of 84 new birds caught during the month (we did catch some new Blue Tits too!).

Mallard	8
Moorhen	8
Coot	3
Goldcrest	2
Fieldfare	1
Redpoll	2
House Sparrow	3

December 2011
Quite busy with 203 new birds trapped, although a visit to the Orchard in Bishop Sutton was moderately tame, with few thrushes due to a lack of fallen apples (which the owner had removed). Two Fieldfares and a Blackcap were caught, amongst a few other species.

The undoubted highlight of the month was a Yellow-browed Warbler trapped on the 27th then retrapped a few days later. (I missed it both times! - RJP).

A concerted effort was put into trapping Starlings at a roost in the reeds behind the bund. Catches of 19 + 73 + 6 and 9 (107) were deemed a moderate success! Other highlights are listed below, to add to those above:

Mallard	10
Teal	9
Moorhen	2
Chiffchaff	5
Blackcap	2
Fieldfare	2
Redwing	3

The totals for 2011 were 5427 ringed, 2459 retrapped, 7887 handlings. This is the 5th highest year total for CVRS. All subject to final checking.

November 2011
As to be expected numbers of birds slumped a little with the arrival of winter. The Bishop Sutton Fruit Farm was visited but most of the apples had been 'hoovered' up leaving little to attact birds. Nevertheless there were some highlights during the month.

Mallard and Teal	The duck traps were baited and 3 Mallard and 6 Teal now carry rings.
Sparrowhawk	A single trapped (in the Orchard).
Chiffchaff	One of three trapped was a bird which had been ringed in Belgium - we'll learn more of this anon.
Blackcap	Just one.
Goldcrest	10 was a good haul.
Redpoll	Just a single.
Starling	22 trapped in a newly formed roost in the reeds in the bund pool. Further attempts will be made to ring more of these birds.

October 2011
The month of change with end of summer migrants and residents reasserting themselves. 515 birds were handled comprising 279 new birds and 236 retraps. 21 species. No true winter visitors yet.

Warblers. Almost all of these were trapped in the first couple of days of the month.

Sedge Warbler	3
Reed Warbler	6	One of these, on 23rd, was very fat weighing 20.5gm, almost twice the normal weight of 10.5 gm. Enough fat to take all the way to west Africa in one go.
Blackcap	70
Chiffchaff	42
Cettis Warbler	8	These almost doubled the year total thus far. Some must have arrived at Chew from elsewhere.

Residents. A sudden increase in these almost entirely due to the provision of 'artificial' food.

Long-tailed Tit	24
Great Tit	22
Blue Tit	34
Nuthatch	1
Wren	15

Finally, just 3 Blackbirds and 1 Song Thrush. Where have all the thrushes gone?
And 8 Moorhens, due to bait again and resiting of traps.

September 2011

Kingfisher	1	They've been down this year so just one in the nets was a surprise.
Sedge Warbler	62	Fewer as the days go by
Reed Warbler	59	Ditto
Lesser Whitethroat	2	Undoubtedly the last of the year.
Whitethroat	5	Ditto.
Blackcap	152	A good total, more to come, we hope, next month.
Chiffchaff	128	Ditto
Willow Warbler	3	At the beginning of the month. An early migrant.
Nuthatch	1	One in the nets was a nice surprise. Although they breed nearby they rarely visit the ringing areas.

Last but not least, a Cetti's Warbler was controlled (ie. caught by us but already carrying a ring). It was a UK ring so could have come from anywhere in southern Britain. More news next month.
Robin Prytherch

August 2011

Swallow	60	Mostly trapped at a roost.
Sedge Warbler	319	A record catch for recent years.
Reed Warbler	276	Unusually taking second place behind Sedge Warbler.
Lesser Whitethroat	1	We expected a few more.
Whitethroat	2	Ditto.
Garden Warbler	1	They must depart as soon as breeding is over.
Blackcap	49
Chiffchaff	114
Willow Warbler	30
Spotted Flycatcher	1	A real rarity at CVRS now.
Greenfinch	1	This too!

July 2011

Sand Martin	2
Swallow	38	All trapped at a roost near the end of the month.
Cetti's Warbler	4	Well down after two cold winters.
Sedge Warbler	79
Reed Warbler	365	Plus 150 pullus ringed in the reed beds.
Lesser Whitethroat	7
Whitethroat	4	Still quite a rarity.
Garden Warbler	8	The breeding birds must disperse soon after breeding.
Blackcap	45
Chiffchaff	43
Willow Warbler	11
Marsh Tit	1	A real rarity in the nets - two or three a year normally.
Greenfinch	1	Only the fourth this year.
Siskin	1	The bird of the month. A Juv., where did it come from?
Kingfisher	3	Now is the time for juvs to appear at the lake.

If you would like to see more news like this, let us know, and give us your comments. Hope to send out another list at the end of August.

RJP 03/08/11