The first Chiffchaff at Five Bells was ringed on 15th March this year and a further 21 have been ringed in the garden since then. On 5th April a bird ringed as a juvenile on 29th June 2015 was retrapped. So far this Spring a total of 22 Chiffchaffs have been captured compared with just 12 Willow Warblers. Perhaps it is too early in the season to jump to any conclusions, but in past years the number of Willow Warblers have always considerably exceed the numbers of Chiffchaffs during the Spring migration.
The Willow Warblers always arrive later and the first was ringed on 31st March. On 4th April one was controlled with a Channel Islands ring and further details are awaited.
Latest news, a Blackcap ringed as a juvenile on 28th June 2014 which was retrapped during June, July and August 2015 was caught again today ( 7th April ), returning for another breeding season.