Ringing Report - 30 August

Chris Hughes writes:

A good session with a cracking catch of juv Blackcaps who were busy gorging themselves on berries. My fingers are still stained a nice shade of purple! Another 7 juv Reed Warblers and a control (one I've not ringed) so it will be interesting to see where it's come from (somewhere north I reckon). The Blackcaps had a huge range of weights so some had been around for a while fattening up, others had just arrived I expect and some would be local birds about to build up their fat reserves. The 2 Garden Warblers were very interesting in that the weight differences were startling. I suspect the heavier juvenile had been around for quite a while and the adult had just arrived overnight. Always good to note the build up of fat and muscle on migrants at this time of year and, as I had a trainee ringer with me, it was a good opportunity for him to compare the plumage differences on Garden Warblers. They can be tricky to age, even in the hand, so a good learning point for him.