CES, RAS, nests and Stormies

Two CES sessions have been completed successfully on the Teifi Marsh since the last blog.
CES 4 on the 9th June was fairly quiet in breezy conditions during a brief lull in a very stormy week.  29 new birds and 16 retraps including some returning Reed Warblers from 2014 and 15.
CES 5 was busier with 80 birds (55 new and 25 retraps). Highlights were the first juvenile Kingfisher of the year and an adult female Redstart.

This was only the 5th adult that we have caught in 8 years. Among the retraps was a Goldcrest ringed as a juvenile last year that was now a breeding bird and a Reed Warbler ringed in 2010.
Other ringing activities continue as well as CES...
The day after CES, we were up early again and ringing at 2 sites on a different part of the Teifi Marsh. More returning Reed Warblers for RAS and the first juvenile Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings. A couple of Cetti's Warbler juvs too.
Breeding Siskins are again being targeted in Richard's garden as part of a RAS project. The first juvenile was ringed on the 11th June.

Low numbers are coming to the garden feeders this summer so far but are very active in nearby woodland.
The first juvenile Linnet was ringed on the 7th June at Mwnt. Retrapping adults from last year for RAS is going very well with over 50 caught already. More details on this from Chris once the RAS season finishes. Our location for this ringing at Mwnt really is unbeatable on a sunny morning especially when deserted after a busy half term.

Also at Mwnt, but at night, we catch Storm Petrels. On Monday we caught the first five of the year. All were new but the map shows the different locations of controls to and from Mwnt previously.

Finally nest boxes. With many birds now fledged from their nests we can complete our nest records for submission.
One successful nest was Pied Flycatchers at Ffynone Wood.
Starting with 7 eggs, 6 hatched and 5 fledged.

Karen has been ringing Pied and Spotted Flycatcher pulli in the Gwaun Valley and Charlie has been ringing Swallows and continuing with his nest boxes in the Towy Valley. A blog about that project from Charlie soon.