June 15th
We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver where we saw 14 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 8 Mute Swans, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 2 Garden Warblers, 1 Mallard, 6 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk, 24 Sand Martins, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Moorhen, 1 Corn Bunting singing, 4 Skylarks, 2 House Martins, 5 Goldfinches and 1 Whitethroat.

Birds ringed 36: Chiffchaff 5, Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Robin 3, Cetti's Warbler 1, Great Tit 3, Blue Tit 3, Reed Warbler 4, Blackcap 11, Dunnock 1, Blackbird 2.

Cetti's Warbler

During our ringing this morning we retrapped a male Reed Warbler we first ringed as a breeding adult in 2013 and which we have retrapped breeding at Reculver in every year since. Reed Warblers migrate to spend the winter in West Africa by crossing the Sahara refuelling in southern Europe and Morocco on the way. The flight to West Africa is approximately 4,500 km. Our bird has made this flight there and back at least eight times which is a staggering 72,000 km. This does not include the distance it flies in Africa or whilst breeding at Reculver. Its weight today was just 11.4 grams.