Another reed bed surprise

Colin, Stan and myself were back out at the reed bed last Sunday evening (8 Sep). After the Northerly winds on Saturday, Swallow numbers over the reed bed were down in the low hundreds as opposed to the thousand plus of the previous week so it looks like they had taken advantaged of a favourable wind and set off on their long migration South.

Consequently the numbers actually caught in the reed bed were also down with only 10 Swallows caught and ringed. There were still a few Sedge Warblers about with another two new ones being caught and ringed and also a retrap.

There was also another surprise on one of the net rounds.

It wasn't a rarity in the Orkney sense as it is classed as an uncommon breeder and fairly common passage migrant however it is, as far as I'm aware another new species for the reed bed.

This particular bird was also a warbler but unlike the Sedge Warbler which is from the Acrocephalus family this one was from the Phylloscopus family. To be more precise a Phylloscopus trochilus better known as the Willow Warbler.

Willow Warbler

Totals caught this season so far:

  Blackbird                    2
  Linnet                        1
  Pied Wagtail              13
  Reed Bunting             15
  Sand Martin                8
  Sedge Warbler           95
  Starling                    22
  Swallow                  576
  Thrush Nightingale       1
  Willow Warbler            1
  Wren                         2
  Total                          736

With strong winds forecast for most of the week it is looking unlikey that we will get to the reed bed anytime soon unless the weather improves. So I would imagine there may only be one more session before we finish at the reed bed for this year.