A very early start to take advantage of the morning activity period was done on Friday morning and we arrived at Alba Marsh just after first light. We set up three 18 metre four panel nets and a 12 metre four panel net. Bird activity looked reasonable as we set up the nets and a large movement of Swifts, Swallows and Martins was progressing. The first bird caught was a new ringing species for me in the form of a Red-throated Pipit in summer plumage.
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| Red-throated Pipit |
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| Red-throated Pipit |
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| Red-throated Pipit |
We had quite a successful morning for us and caught 39 birds including five Red-throated Pipits, 11 Willow Warblers, 12 House Sparrows, six Clamorous Reed Warblers, one Graceful Prinia, one Yellow Wagtail, one Daurian Shrike, one Turkestan Shrike and one Barred Warbler. There were two re-traps, both of which were Clamorous Reed Warblers one of which was ringed at the same site and the other, with a BTO ring, from elsewhere which I will report on when we find out the data.
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| Barred Warbler (young male) |
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| Barred Warbler (young male) |
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| Clamorous Reed Warblers (two males) |
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| Clamorous Reed Warbler (male) |
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| Yellow Wagtail (female flave type) |
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| Yellow Wagtail (female flave type) |
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| Willow Warbler |
Since the last visit to Alba Marsh three weeks ago the Bluethroats and Water Pipits have moved out but large numbers of Red-throated Pipits have moved in. Willow Warblers have now replaced Common Chiffchaffs which is normal for this time of year with Willow Warbler being a later migrant through the region. An adult male Little Bittern was flushed on three occasions from the wet areas but did not go into the net and a number of breeding Black-winged Stilts were present making a lot of noise protecting their nest and young.