More Cetti's than Tits for CES 2

A 60 bird catch for our second CES of the season with 41 new birds and 19 retraps.
The first juveniles of the year were 3 Blackbirds and a Robin.
The commonest species was Sedge Warbler - 21 to add to our total of over 100 this spring so far as they migrate through the Teifi Marsh reed beds. Relatively few stay to breed.

(This was the first Sedge Warbler ringed this year on the 10th April)

Other species ringed included a Jay, 2 Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Wren, Dunnocks, Bullfinch and Chiffchaffs. Also a Reed Bunting, now added to our colour ringing project. But strangely not one new Tit either Blue, Great or Long-tailed.

Interesting retraps this week, some initially ringed in the first  year of our CES in 2009...
Of the four Cetti's Warbler retraps, one was ringed in Sept 2009 and only caught once since in 2011.
We would expect to have caught a lot more Reed Warblers returning to breed by now  but two regulars did turn up - one ringed in August 2009, and the other in July 2009. Thousands of miles of migration for them in those 5 years!
Also a Garden Warbler arrived back, initially ringed in 2010.
We also monitor nests for the BTO nest record scheme. And not only nest boxes -  two active nests are in unusual places. Wrens are very clever at using junk in out buildings, this nest is in an old UPS case! The quantity of leaves collected by a 10g bird is amazing.

At least 4 eggs could be seen and have now hatched.
This Pied Wagtail nest, with 5 downy young, is inches above the moving belt of a log splitter conveyor belt which had been in use!

The machine owners happily agreed not to use it until the chicks fledge.
Meanwhile, in Canada, Richard is still ringing at Long Point Bird Observatory. The warblers there are pouring back in big numbers with a 300 bird catch one day. This is one of the beautiful Golden- winged Warblers ringed there last week.

(photo - thanks to Long Point Bird Obs)