With no sign of a break in the current, exceptional period of hot, dry weather I have been spoilt for choice when it comes to the selection of ringing days. My ability to recover from the 4am starts, necessary to give enough time for the hour-long drive to the site and to erect the nets at dawn, has become the limiting factor.
I have lumped the last two visits together again as there was little difference between them, although Saturday 21st was cloudier than it had been for some time and there was a threat of a shower in the air. Bird-wise, they were very similar and dominated by dispersing juveniles. The first Willow Warbler of the autumn was trapped on the 21st.
The grand total for the two days was 114 new birds: 4 Blackbird, 32 Blackcap, 6 Blue Tit, 16 Chiffchaff, 6 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 24 Reed Warbler, 3 Robin, 11 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 4 Wren.
The Early Worm 