ADUR ESTUARY: A Hobby flew north over Ricardos
CISSBURY RING: Just the regular breeders now with Blackcaps, Whitethroats still occassionally singing on track between golf courses and Linnets Stonechats and Yellowhammers breeding on the ring itself.
Butterflies definitely moved into summer mode and wild flowers in profusion. Meadow Browns everywhere and the first Dark Green Fritillaries and Marbled Whites in the meadows and near the trig point. Painted Ladies seem to be around in good numbers this summer as well as a few pristine Small Tortoisehell. Nick and Claire Oliver
LADYWELL: A lovely summer morning in the valley with plenty of bird song but very little activity. By 08:30 we had only caught a retrap Dunnock and Wren but, thankfully, things improved and 13 different species were eventually handled although a total of only 20 birds. At last more fledglings were ringed with young Robin, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Blue Tit trapped
Far fewer retraps were handled today but it was pleasing to see a young Blue Tit fledged from another of the valley’s nest boxes and the Reed Warbler Z378669 was ringed by Sue as a bird hatched in 2015, now just about six years old and not retrapped in the valley in the interim. . A pair of Red-legged Partridges in the field opposite the ringing table kept us amused for much of the morning. Meadow Browns were the only butterflies noted and a good number of blue damselflies were seen. John Newnham and Ladywell ringing team
