A good day - Cetti's Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff

Another early start on Rimrose and once again, it was left to me and Tineke to set the nets, the usual line at the feeding station, one in the willows and we were finally able to get a net in the reed bed. The reed bed has been fairly inaccessible since the summer - the water level in the reed bed has increased significantly and with my time in Portugal over the summer, the lines had become overgrown.

The early start once again paid dividends, although there were less thrushes about - we didn't see or hear a single Fieldfare. There were a lot more Blackbirds than there had been recently but the Redwing numbers have decreased, with only 19 Redwing were seen in flight. Early on, four Blackbirds and four Redwing came to calls, as well as a young male Reed Bunting.

One of four Redwing

I had taken two Potter traps along this morning to see if we could catch any of the Moorhens or Water Rails that have been on the Valley in abundance in the past few weeks (we heard at least five individual Rails). We were rewarded with two Moorhens - a good early ringing tick for Neil Diamond (who had, at this point arrived, along with Moxey who had been to feed up at Crosby Hall).

One of two Moorhens

A first year male Reed Bunting

After last weeks excitement involving Firecrests and control Goldcrest, I wasn't really expecting anything special. On an early net round, after a couple of retrap Wrens, it looked like we had another - but I saw a grey bellied Wren-shaped bird at the far end in the Willows - from a good distance, I thought 'House Wren' - joking around of course, but from the end of the net, I recognised this bird.

A couple of expletives and a scramble for my phone and it was in the bag. A first-year female Cetti's Warbler. Me and Moxey had speculated all summer that Rimrose Valley offered a number of excellent breeding sites for Cettia cetti. In fact, North Lancs Ringing Group have recently blogged on the Cetti's situation up their way - Cetti's Warbler - The Mystery Deepens.
I would say the mystery has deepened as this bird was a first-year female (wing length 55mm)!

Coincidentally, Ian had a free morning before heading off to the Bird Fair at Martin Mere and arrived in time to ring (and see) his first Cetti's Warbler. I've ringed hundreds of Cetti's Warblers in Portugal over the years so I was made up to see Ian ring the bird, the first ringed by SWLRG!

Ian Wolfenden - the wolf that got the cream!

Cettia cetti

Ten tail feathers = Cetti's Warbler

I thought that was that, a steady morning ringing steady numbers of Chaffinch and Greenfinch with the odd Goldcrest and Bullfinch thrown in for good measure. However, on the penultimate net round of the day, we caught an unusual Phylloscopus. When we got back to the ringing table, we gave it a thorough examination and took photos. Given the emargination on the primaries, it was clearly a collybita and we suspected that it was likely to be the tristis subspecies. The bird was very pale and very striking in comparison to the Chiffchaff we caught earlier on in the month, which was much browner. Svennson came out and given the wing length, pale colour and biometrics, it fitted with the description of the tristis form. Whilst Moxey is a vastly experienced ringer and I also have over ten years experience as a serious ringer, we don't claim that we have got this one right. Make your own mind up on this one, as always, I would love to hear feedback from anyone with more experience of handling this bird.

Phylloscopus collybita tristis (?)

Slightly blurry wing, back and tail

Back, rump and tail

In-hand shot

Goldcrest - 1

Wren - 2 (2)
L.T.Tit - 1 (2)
Chiffchaff tristis - 1
Bullfinch - 2
Cettis Warbler - 1
Goldfinch - 1
Great Tit - 1 (8)
Blue Tit - 8 (5)
Chaffinch - 13 (1)
Reed Bunting - 1
Moorhen - 2
Greenfinch - 13 (2)
Blackbird - 6
Redwing - 4
Dunnock - (2)
Robin - (2)

TOTAL: 56 (24)