The nets at Aylmer were not opened properly untill around 7am, somewhat later than I would of hoped for when conducting a C.E.S. visit. Dave Vincent was on hand to help open the nets quickly as soon as the rain had dispersed, it did still however affect the catch as the birds were clearly not moving in the dark threatening cloud with most of the females appearing to be sitting tight on nests.
The result for the day was 27 birds processed including 9 New birds and 18 Retraps.
The catch was made up thus (New/Retrap) - (1/0) Wood Pigeon, (0/1) Robin, (0/1) Blackbird, (1/0) Sedge Warbler, (1/3) Lesser Whitethroat, (2/8) Whitethroat, (1/0) Blackcap, (1/0) Chiffchaff, (0/2) Willow Warbler, (0/2) Blue Tit, (0/1) Great Tit, (1/0) Chaffinch and (1/0) Goldfinch. - 13 species in total.
The C.E.S. included just 9 birds of 7 species, this is very low compared to last years first visit which included 16 birds of 7 species as well. Willow Warbler were down by 75% on last years first visit but perhaps they haven't all arrived back yet. Whilst Whitethroat and Blackcap were on site in much increased numbers on last years first visit.
Four species were missing from last years first visit - Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch and Blackbird whilst conversely four species were caught that were not caught on last years first visit - Robin, Lesser Whitethroat, Chaffinch and Blue Tit.
Still early days, one visit down and 11 more to go. The next visit will hopefully be more productive with an earlier start, weather depending!
On other news today, Gib played host to another Mega bird today when John Shaughnessey found a Collared Pratincole! It flew over the Saltmarsh around Lill's Hut before folowing the River Steeping inland and eventually driving off inland over the farm fields before appearing to double back on itself and dropping down somewhere near Croft Marsh. In all John watched the birds for around 5/10mins in total and unfortunately nobody on the reserve managed to get there in time to see the bird before it dropped out of site.
Ironically John had been to see what was probably the same bird at Rosper Road Pools on his way to Gib a few days earlier and so had already seen the bird earlier in the week! Despite much waiting in Harveys Hide and checking of all water bodies on the reserve by various birders, the bird could not be refound and had presumably headed off inland out of site of the anxious binoculars!
The Collared Pratincole was the 2nd for Gib following a bird on the 21st May 1973 on the Mere, not long after it had been created! The Mere also hosted a White Winged Black Tern the same year! - Is it time for a repeat performance?
Also reported on the reserve on the 8th May 2011 were -
x500 Swallow (south pm)
x300 Swift (south pm)
x200 House Martin (south pm)
x1 Spoonbill (on Tennyson Sands pm briefly before moving onto Jacksons pm)
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| Lesser Whitethroat ringed on the C.E.S. on 8th May 2011. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| Whitethroat ringed on the C.E.S. on 8th May 2011. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| Willow Warbler ringed on the C.E.S. on 8th May 2011. Photo - Mick Briggs  Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| Male Blackcap ringed on the C.E.S. on 8th May 2011. Photo - Mick Briggs |
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| Sedge Warbler ringed on the 8th May 2011. Photo - Mick Briggs |
