May saw the start of the Constant Effort season with three visits at both Bedfont and Wraysbury, but there were differing fortunes at the two sites.
Bedfont reported numbers well up to their 5-year averages for new and retrap birds whereas Wraysbury was well down on expectations e.g. new warblers were only 79 against a projected 121.
Total new birds ringed for the month was 318 of which 123 were full-grown. The 195 pulli were from Tythebarns, Surrey and Woolley Firs. Woolley Firs had Nuthatch, a new species for the boxes there.
Several fledgelings were captured by the month end – Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Wren and Blue Tit at Bedfont with Wraysbury adding Blackcap and Chiffchaff. So an interesting start to the season and all the more reason to support forthcoming CES sessions to see how it develops.
