2006 was a very successful year in terms of both numbers, and variety of species caught. The ringing effort (number of nets/number of visits/time nets open), in 2006 was a little under twice the effort in 2005. This is very important when trying to compare totals between years.
Ringing of Reed Warbler nestlings was not as good as expected, mainly because visits were not timed as well as they could have been, with several broods already fledged, while others were either too small or still in egg — of which there is more later in this report.
The clearing of rides helped the catch rate generally, but some willow sp. bushes had increased in height since 2005, which resulted in the nets beside these being less successful as birds flew over the nets. It will probably take a few more years before we have established exactly where the most productive sites are, and how best to manage the vegetation around them. What also helped generally was the weather, which provided a hot dry period during Summer which helped most relevant species in their breeding attempts; with reasonably still conditions during the main ringing period which helped the catch-rate. Those who experienced being caught in the heavy downpours may find this more difficult to believe!
For the scientific names of these birds, and their local status, see our county lists.
All but one of these were caught in one net during one morning when the weather conditions were such that the flies were very low, at the edge of the water, and very near to that particular net. We can therefore deduce nothing from this of a more general nature.
The reasonable assumption here is that these birds are resident and numbers reflect the breeding population. Only 19 definite juvenile Wrens were caught, and overall the numbers compare unfavourably with 2005, we suspect they were not very successful in their breeding attempts in 2006. About twice as many Dunnock and Robin were caught this year-consistent with the extra effort-probably they did as well as 2005.
This was an unexpected catch as there were no records of the bird breeding this year. The bird was a juvenile, so we must assume that it 'dropped in' to the area on its southward migration-or was on an exploratory flight near to its nest site near to Belvide?
Only 10 adults were caught this year (14 last), from which a total of 43 juveniles were ringed. We suggest that most of the birds were hatched at Belvide since most were caught in July and early August; however there may have been some immigrants from passage birds. Although only 28 juveniles were ringed in 2005, given the extra effort this year, we feel that this species has not done as well as in 2005.
Again we feel that most birds relate to those breeding at Belvide — we even caught two freshly fledged birds as late as the first week in September. However, we also know there is some immigration as we have records of birds 'commuting' between the site and Chillington.
Approximately the same number of adults were caught as last year. Catching adults is not susceptible to the same effect of increased effort as juveniles, since they are at the site continuously and tend to be more static in their behaviour — if they are there then we will catch most of them quite early in the ringing effort, after which the catch drops off as the older, wiser birds learn where the nets are (see graph below). A total of 116 juveniles/nestlings was caught which is approximately twice as many as last year, in line with the extra ringing effort. Their appearance after fledging can be seen from the graph below, as can the length of time fledging occurs with 2 and sometimes 3 broods being reared. The apparent drop in period 4 is mainly a function of a period of poor weather when little ringing was carried out. The 10 day periods are as follows:
Only 11 nestlings were ringed although an estimate of productive nests was carried out. We estimate that in the reed bed by the first hide there were about 8 pairs, one or two pairs around the shore between there and the Gazebo bay, where we estimate there were 7 pairs. This equates to somewhere around 17–20 pairs of Reed Warblers on the site.
2 adults and 14 juveniles were ringed, which is in line with last year-probably 2 or 3 breeding pairs.
We believe that one pair bred this year. One adult and 4 juveniles were ringed; none were ringed in 2005.
25 birds were ringed which is about double last year, indicating a steady state for this species. What is fascinating however, is that while this should indicate that at least 4 pairs were present, over the last 2 years we have not caught a single adult Garden Warbler! (Answers on a postcard please.)
63 individuals were ringed indicating a steady state for this species also. Adult Blackcaps do seem easier to catch than their plainer Garden Warbler cousins for some reason.
Perhaps surprisingly, this was the most numerous species to be ringed, taking over from last year's 'winner' which was Reed Warbler. However, the difference is marginal, and there would appear to be about the same number of pairs around-possibly 10-12, with 95 juveniles being caught, some of which undoubtedly have moved into the area from breeding nearby.
The position seems about the same as last year, although trying to relate numbers to breeding pairs is particularly tricky with this species because juveniles especially begin to migrate very early in August.
No particular patterns could be established on the remaining species due to relatively small numbers — although their catch rates do appear to be reasonably in line with last year.
A retrap is a bird which was originally ringed and then recaptured at the site.
R495437 — a Reed Bunting ringed as an adult bird on 31 December 2004 when trying to catch Snipe, was re-trapped on 2nd May 2006 obviously a resident breeding bird.
1U 9019 — a Long Tailed Tit, ringed as a juvenile bird on 11 July 2004 in a large flock, re-trapped on 1 August 2006. This bird has survived 2 mild winters and stayed in the same site.
T569185/ T569187/ T569191 — 3 adult Sedge Warblers which were all ringed on the same day: 10 July 2005, and which were all re-trapped on the same day, 4 July 2006. These are obviously experienced breeding birds returning to the same site each year. We do not know for how many years because they were 'adult' when first ringed.
APK 392 — a Long Tailed Tit first ringed as an adult on 5 August 2005, retrapped on 17 January and again on 2 May 2006. Again a bird that has survived a mild winter and stays close to the same area.
A control is a bird which was originally ringed or recaptured at another site. Unfortunately we have only had a couple of controls this year-both of which were ringed locally:-
TH 46574 — a Greenfinch adult female ringed 7 April 2006, at a garden feeder in Brewood, recaptured 27 July 2006 at Belvide.
T227891 — a Reed Warbler ringed as a juvenile bird in Chillington on 9 August, controlled at Belvide on 19 August. Obviously checking out its local area for the future.
The above notes are intended to be read alongside these tables:
The ringers would like to thank the Belvide Management Committee for their continuing support and encouragement-especially Steve for his regular interest and visits. We hope these notes are both interesting and helpful to the continued improvement of Belvide as a first class reserve. Special thanks to Glynn Middleton for keeping all the electronic records and producing the tables.
Colin McShane; Pete Bache; Glynn Middleton; Paul TenHoeve
Belvide Reservoir Nature Reserve is situated near Brewood, Staffordshire, England, seven miles north-west of Wolverhampton, at grid reference SJ870099.
Ornithology in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & the West Midlands county, since 1929.
Fetched from http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/belvide/ringing2006 on Thursday 09 February 2012 13:09:00
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