April 28th (New Hythe)

Cetti`s Warbler (west scrub)

John Buckingham joined me this morning for a very enjoyable ringing session.One of the first birds we took out of the nets was a Cetti`s Warbler,John`s first,so he was well pleased.

Birds ringed

Cetti`s Warbler  (1)
Garden Warbler  (2)
Long-tailed Tit  (2)
Blackbird  (2) one being a well advanced youngster.
Willow Warbler  (2)
Chiffchaff  (1)
Robin  (3)
Common Whitethroat  (3)
Reed Bunting  (1)
Reed Warbler  (1)
Blackcap  (1)
Dunnock  (1)

While we were there we heard a Cuckoo and a flyover Oystercatcher.

Garden Warbler (west scrub)

April 23rd (Sandhole)

The Nightingale at the Hoopoe site was showing quite well first thing this morning.

April 18th (New Hythe)

This morning I re trapped Nightingale (T677041).He has now reached the age of seven years.This is a good age for a small bird that winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

First caught on April 23rd 2008,age code (5),a bird hatched during 2007.He was holding a territory in the west scrub.

2009 -  re trapped (14 04 2009),in the west scrub.

2012 - re trapped (27 04  2012),this time in the east scrub (pylon territory).

2013 - re trapped,(16 05 2013),east scrub,(pylon territory).

2014 - re trapped,(08 04 2014), east scrub,(pylon territory).

While I was ringing I saw 2 Oystercatchers flying around the Brook House area,4 Swallows flying through north and heard,Cuckoo,Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat.

April 15th (New Hythe)

Nightingale

I managed to catch three Nightingales this morning,all of which were already wearing rings.Two were retraps,one was  ringed on the 26 04 2010 and the other on the 17 04 2013.The third was a control,a bird ringed elsewhere by another bird ringer.Only my second controlled Nightingale for New Hythe.I will send the number off to the BTO and in due course they will let me no who ringed the bird and where.

I was hoping to re trap either T677063 or T677041,or both would have been nice.As I re trapped both birds in April 2013,aged six years.If I do managed to catch them later during the month,providing that is they are still surviving.Seven years would be a good age for a Nightingale.