The season has been progressing steadily and the table below details the capture totals up to 17th August for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and the 23rd August for 2010. Looking at the figures it appears that some species have had a good breeding season once again, the most notable being Willow Warbler. The highest total for Willow Warbler ringed at the Haven in a year is 259 birds from 1981, but that total was skewed as 91 birds were ringed in a small patch of willow near the beach huts along the Meon Shore. The next highest total is 158 birds, from 2010. As of the 17th August, 185 birds have been ringed and interestingly we have captured three different adult birds that were undergoing their post nuptial moult, we have only ever caught one bird before.
Sedge Warbler numbers are also high, although not as high as in 2011 or 2013, and Reed Warblers also appear to have had a good year. Grasshopper Warbler numbers appear to be generally low, but this may yet improve as we caught 17 and 12 respectively, on the 14th and 16th August. Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat numbers are at best average, but Cetti's Warbler seems to have had another good breeding season.
There were no real surprises to report species wise this week but we did catch our first Lesser Whitethroat of the year, hopefully the first of many.
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