Hi

Well it was another early start today with a Constant Effort Site (CES) bird ringing session in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res.  Very muddy and wet with many of the boardwalks under water!  The reservoir is apparently at least 98% full and is the highest water level for some years.  Previous CES sessions this year have identified a real lack of fledged young birds, but today was better with several juvenile Robins and a handful of juvenile tits trapped and processed. Of particular interest was the capture of an adult female Blackcap bearing a Belgium ring - it will take a little while to find out the history of this bird.  Eleanor is just back in from a wander in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and up towards Blueberry Farm.  Nothing significant found but the regular Barn Owl and Grasshopper Warbler were on show as usual.  The only visible migration noticed during today included a few Lapwings and non-breeding Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a couple of Siskin singletons passing over.  Roll on the autumn!

Regards

Neil M