We catch Treecreepers at Abberton now and again but 5 today was different gravy altogether - fledgling and adult shown here. Bullfinch and Long-tailed Tits are always good value too. EBwS Bird News

What has happened to all the Isle of May guillemots? The first egg was the latest ever but adjusting for that we should still be peak laying now and the cliffs are terrifyingly empty. Even those that have laid don't seem committed and are losing their eggs at an alarming rate.1/2

Abberton CES visit-3 today. Among 47 birds were two fine Reed Buntings and our first juvenile Chiffchaffs of the year. Lovely morning.

Breaking news!!!. Confirmed by experts. Middlewick is in the top 2 sites of the country for Nightingales. With almost 60 recorded singing males, we have 1-2% of the uk population. A fantastic result which shows why this site is so valuable. 1/2

3 new Nightingales (2 females) was a good result at today’s Abberton CES. 40 total also included Garden Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, plus first young Blackcap. EBwS Bird News

Abberton CES visit 5 produced 49 birds including recently fledged Nightingale. Great to confirm successful breeding!

Five adult Turtle Doves colour-ringed in '22 have returned in '24. So far this year, four more TDs have been fitted with GPS tags. Survival seems good, now let's learn more about their use of local farmland to improve productivity.

First juvenile Garden Warbler of the year, plus Bullfinch, and one of several more Nightingales for the ongoing study Upper Beult Farmer Cluster Kent Wildlife Trust.

Several Barn Owl broods ringed (under Schedule 1 licence) including this lovely trio. It’s great to see landowner pride generated by these birds. Thanks to all who help.

After a stellar sunrise, today’s Abberton CES session produced 43 birds. These included Lesser Whitethroat, a 4-year-old Chiffchaff, and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Two Avocets over was nice too, my first here.

Jackdaw - an impressive bird up close

A recently fledged Carrion Crow at Abberton. The blue eyes will darken over summer.

Abberton CES, visit 7 on 7/7. Total of 50 birds including 5 Cetti’s Warblers, Garden Warbler, 2 Goldfinch. Best was this 6+ year old Reed Warbler, ringed as an adult by us in July 2019. It will have made at least six return trips to west Africa - always humbling to think about.

Harry’s Happy Hour. After GPS tagging on a farm, his SatNav led us 3.5km SE to his woodland nest and his roost in a garden another 2.25km NW of that. He hangs out there too – with at least 4 other TDs. An intimate peep found him billing & cooing. There’s no privacy anymore!

Treecreeper at Abberton CES, visit 8. Clearly an 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 fan!

Some of the next generation: juvenile Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Whitethroat among 95 birds caught at Abberton today. Chiffchaff (32) typically abundant. Whimbrel over EBwS Bird News

One of two new Kingfishers among 50 birds at today’s Abberton CES; the pinkish lower mandible indicates female. Other bits noted: Greenshank, Nightingale, 3+ Willow Warbler

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Thanks to everyone who helped with this year’s Abberton CES. A highlight was return to breeding territory of a Nightingale originally ringed in The Gambia 🇬🇲 in January 2020. Epic stuff.

Here’s a really nice movement of a Cetti’s Warbler last year. Ringed by us at Abberton Res, Essex on 14 July, then caught again at Leighton Moss, Lancashire on 9 November. 354 km NW. A top example of juvenile female Cetti’s dispersal, right to edge of range.