Ringing Report 8 August 2025

The weather was dry and mostly still, the sun was patchy so not too hot. The catch was a large one mainly made up of Blue Tits and Great Tits, it is good to see the numbers of Great Tits are remaining high. The Dunnock numbers were also high; they seem to be having a successful year.

The first Willow Warbler was caught so the migration has started and in previous years significant numbers have passed through the reserve.

The adults caught are mostly at the end of the annual moult, they should start to become more evident, instead of hiding away. Moulting their wing feathers leaves them more vulnerable to predators.

One of the Blackcaps, a juvenile was in a very scruffy state as it was moulting a large number of body and head feathers.