After an absence of just over a month, I finally returned to South Milton Ley today. Unsuitable weather for ringing at the beginning of May had been followed by a two week break at Portland Bird Observatory. Although there were no falls while we were there, the two undoubted highlights, in amongst the more routine spring passage on land and at sea, were a male Moltoni’s Warbler in the hand, a world first for me, a Woodchat Shrike on our penultimate day and, on my final net round on my last ringing day, an adult male Hawfinch in the net – a ringing tick! So, all things considered, a rewarding two weeks!
Back to SML. I had been dreading returning as the spring vegetation, particularly in the reedbed net rides, can be a nightmare after a few weeks absence. I was not to be disappointed. Marsh Ride had all but disappeared under a sea of Hemlock Water Dropwort.
Not a pleasant plant at the best of times, its stems had become too thick for my hedge-trimmer, and I had to resort to manpower and slash my way though in between net rounds. It took a few hours hard graft but it’s done.
I’ll rake out the dead vegetation on my next visit. I always feel safer when I can see the boards! From now on it should just be reeds and a few bits of sprouting Willow to contend with until the autumn.
Birdwise, it was pretty much as expected, with a mixture of residents and summer breeders trapped. The first juvenile Blackbirds, Robins and Song Thrush put in an appearance. Many of the breeding warblers were already ringed from previous years and I also controlled a Reed Warbler, which I suspect has hopped across the short distance from neighbouring Slapton Ley. Totals: 29 birds of 13 species including 4 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Cetti’s warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Reed Warbler, 4 Robin, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Song Thrush and 2 Wren.
The Early Worm 