New Swifts!

Sunday morning saw us up bright and early for a morning mist netting session in Paul's garden. It was pleasing to see good numbers of juvenile Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs on the wing along with a 3J Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler being caught.

3J Lesser Whitethroat

The highlight of the morning, however, arrived when Paul got the ladders out to check his Swift boxes. Several broods were of an age suitable for ringing. It was interesting to note that the young weigh more than the adults which is testament to the hard work that the parents put in to catching thousands of flying insects for their broods. Fitting their SO rings however is a challenge as the have short legs and are particularly wriggly.

 Two broods of Swift pulli

Totals - 63 new, (21) re-traps
Wren - 1
Dunnock - 1, (1)
Robin - 1
Blackbird - 2, (1)
Song Thrush - 1
Cetti's Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 8 all juvs. 3J
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Chiffchaff - 8, (1) all 3J
Long-tailed Tit - 3, (2)
Blue Tit - 4
Great Tit - 9, (2)
Treecreeper - 1
Chaffinch - 6, (3)
Greenfinch - 1
Goldfinch - 13, (11) mostly 3Js with all but one of the re-traps being adult