Swallow Fest

It has been a busy month so far with eight ringing sessions completed in the first 5 days. Most of these sessions have involved catching Swallows coming to roost in the reeds at Scotman’s Flash. At its peak the roost held up to a thousand birds and each night it has attracted the attention of a Hobby and one or two Sparrowhawks.

 

The Hobby has put on a spectacular display and is clearly having an impact on the behaviour of the gathering Swallows. Tonight they arrived much later, flew around much higher and only dropped into the reeds when the light really started to fail.

This month’s ringing total for Swallows now stands at 426. In addition 2 controls (birds ringed elsewhere) have been caught along with a bird that was ringed last year at the same site. A good number Reed Warblers have also been caught with 29 juveniles ringed and it seems that late broods may have fared much better than earlier ones.



Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

Other ringing activity has included two short sessions at Haigh Hall and one at Longshaw.

 

September ringing totals to date are:

Woodpigeon 1

Sand Martin 2

Swallow 426

Wren 2

Dunnock 1

Robin 3

Sedge Warbler 1

Reed Warbler 29

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 7

Willow Warbler 1

Goldcrest 11

Coal Tit 1

Blue Tit 3

Total 489