CES Update

Going by the overall numbers caught on each CES session at Priory Country Park this year, totals are up on 2012 and 2013 (which were 2 of the worst years in over 20 years of CES survey work here).

CES 1 - 04/05/14 - 15 (11) = 26 of 9 species
CES 2 - 18/05/14 - 8 (5) = 13 of 9 species
CES 3 - 31/05/14 - 19 (10) = 29 of 9 species
CES 4 - 08/06/14 - 19 (4) = 23 of 6 species
CES 5 - 19/06/14 - 15 (7) = 22 of 8 species
CES 6 - 30/06/14 - 20 (7) = 27 of 11 species
CES 7 - 06/07/14 - 25 (4) = 29 of 13 species
CES 8 - 20/07/14 - 40 (4) = 44 of 12 species
CES 9 - 27/07/14 - 42 (4) = 46 of 14 species

That adds up to 142 new birds and 56 recaptures = 198 handlings of 21 species.

Including an additional, pre CES session in April, the new for year totals so far are:

Green Woodpecker 3 (including a retrap adult from 2011& a juvenile)
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (a juvenile)
Wren 24 (including one from 2012)
Dunnock 23 (including 2 from 2011)
Robin 19 (including 1 from 2011)
Blackbird 18 (including retraps from 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Song Thrush 4 (all new)
Reed Warbler 7 (all new)
Whitethroat 15 (including 2 from 2011)
Garden Warbler 21 (including 1 from 2010)
Blackcap 63 (including 1 from 2012)
Chiffchaff 17 (including 1 from 2011 - a new IRG longevity record - and a British ringed control)
Goldcrest 2 (2 juveniles)
Long Tailed Tit 3 (including 1 from 2011)
Blue Tit 15 (including 1 from 2011)
Great Tit 16 (including 1 from 2010 and 2 from 2011)
Treecreeper 1 (all new)
Magpie 2 (2 juveniles)
Chaffinch 3 (including 1 from 2011)
Goldfinch 1 (all new)
Bullfinch 5 (including 1 from 2013)

A successful ringing demonstration was given to the guided bird walk on CES 9. They saw a wide range of species from Reed Warbler and Blackcap, to Blue Tit and Blackbird. The best though, was a juvenile Green Woodpecker.

I've just about managed to get each session in (it was nip and tuck for a couple due to other commitments & the weather) and I'm hoping to make each of the next 3, which will make 4 consecutive years of complete visits. Hopefully the increase in numbers will continue and the weather will hold good.