18/05 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 2025.03

Session: 18/05/2025 06:00 to 11:15hrs.

Present: JHW,JL,IW,DL.

Weather: bright sunny, cloudy early sunny periods later cool early warm later, calm to light breeze.

Nets: 198M long reed bed ride up from 06:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lures (): None

Juvenile Robin

Notes: The total number processed appeared low at 28 birds, however a check of the totals for visit 3 since 2010 showed the average for this visit to be 32 (range 2017-54 to 2023-17) so a little on the low side of average is not that bad considering that much of the reed along the 1A portion of the ride has been cut and the 3metre or so clearance where the overhead electricity cables bisects the 2A portion of the ride. There appears to have been an influx of new Sedge Warblers since last weeks visit and it was good to get two Reed Bunting in breeding condition; they once bred in numbers on the reed bed but just the occasional pair locate near the net ride in recent times. The first juvenile of the year a Robin for visit 3 is a little early.

Recaptures: (16)

Cetti’s Warbler ringed: 06/10/2024, 13/04/2025

Reed Bunting ringed: 30/06/2024, 06/04/2025.

Reed Warbler ringed: 22/05/2021, 11/06/2023, 11/05/2024, 07/06/2024, 03/05/2025x3, 10/05/2025.

Robin ringed: 10/07/2022, 16/07/2023

Sedge Warbler ringed: 10/05/2025, 13/04/2025

Sightings: The Great White Egret was feeding on the strenear the end the session, once a regular encounter this species in the breeding season is scarce in the area now. The Cuckoos were calling around the marsh for most of the session. Not many butterflies about today and a few demoiselles were on the wing.

10/05 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 2025.02

Session: 10/05/2025 06:00 to 11:15hrs.

Present: JHW,JL,CMD,IW,JA.

Weather: bright sunny, cool early warm later, light breeze.

Nets: 198M long reed bed ride up from 06:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lures (): None.

Today’s Jay

Notes: A reasonable session, the highlight being the Jay, a first ringing for CMD. We trapped a Chaffinch, but it had the start of grotty foot (papilloma varus) making the leg thicker than normal and it could not be ringed. Most birds were in breeding condition though some Reed and Sedge Warblers had not yet developed BPs or CPs. The Blue Tit ringed at St Marks in 2021 is becoming a regular. JHW brought his coffee machine but unfortunately it developed a gas leak, and fire enveloped the burner unit which he manage to put out fortunately.

FG =age indeterminate

Recaptures: (22)

Blue Tit ringed: 19/12/2021 (St Marks Road), 25/08/2024.

Cetti’s Warbler ringed: 30/04/2023, 06/10/2024, 13/04/2025

Chiffchaff ringed: 03/04/2022.

Dunnock ringed: 25/08/2024, 13/04/2025.

Great Tit ringed: 11/05/2024.

Reed Warbler ringed: 21/05/2022, 13/05/2023, 03/06/2023, 11/06/2023x2 02/07/2023, 01/06/2024.

Robin ringed: 10/07/2022

Sedge Warbler ringed: 13/04/2025, 03/05/2025.

Wren ringed: 03/07/2022

Sightings: The Red-legged Partridge (unusual for here) was being harass by two Magpies as

I drove down the track. The Water Rail called from the regenerating reed not the usual place further

up the ride. Four Buzzards soared quite high up, the Swallow was also spotted high up when

watching buzzards. The Oystercatcher flew north at nets down. A good selection of dragonfly and

butterfly on the wing.

03/05 Thatcham Marsh LNR CES visit 2025.01

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 2025.01

Session: 03/05/2025 06:00 to 11:15hrs.

Present: JHW,IW,JL,RAD,CMD,IEW,NC.

Weather: sunny periods, cool, light breeze.

Nets: 198M long reed bed ride up from 06:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lures ():, None

Notes: The first CES visit of 2025 and a total of 24 looked low and maybe the reed cutting and power line temporary access might be a factor. A look at the first visit totals since we started in 1993 showed the average to be 32 (range 2015 – 10 to 2004 – 63) making this visits 24 total on the low side of average. There was a lack of species visiting  the reed bed periphery such as Chiffchaff, Robin, Blue and Great Tits etc as can be seen by comparing the 2024 matching visit list. Hopefully there are still some acrocephalus warblers to return. Looks like the St Marks Road ringed 2021 Blue Tit has a territory near the reed bed as it was also here on the 14/04/2025; 5 years is a good age for a Blue Tit.

FG =age indeterminate

Recaptures: (08)

Blackbird ringed: 09/04/2023.

Blue Tit   ringed: 19/12/2021 (St Marks Road).

Cetti’s Warbler ringed: 17/04/2022.

Reed Warbler ringed: 21/02/2022, 28/05/2023,11/06/2023, 14/07/2024.

Sedge Warbler ringed: 13/04/2025.

Sightings: The first UK Swift of the year for me but I missed the Swallow, disappeared behind the

trees before I could find it. Several gulls quite high up looked to be feeding on insects.

Puerto Pollensa 19th to 25th April 2025

 Back from a week in Majorca - Puerto Pollensa. Saw 43 species which is low for here.

We have visited here every year or two either Spring or Autumn until covid and usually recorded about 70 species over six days. This year was a bit limiting though as Kay is waiting for a knee replacement and can't walk far. She managed around 10KM a day (15000 steps) a few times. I did try walking two of our regular morning-long routes myself but also found I had limitations. Up and through the Boquer Pass that we have walked many times proved too much for me and I ended up with bruised ankle joints attempting the rough, very rocky path that I had to abandoned about third of the way up and it took the next day to recover. Also walked around the back roads on another day through farmland and olive groves. Probably the most memorable bird species was Serin, can’t recall seeing a singing male in full striking yellow breeding plumage before. It was notable that the only birds of prey seen was Kestrel, Woodchat Shrike and the Osprey. Usually we see Eleanora’s Falcon, Hobby, Booted Eagle most visits, probably missed these through not making it far enough up the Boquer, also the absence of Rock Thrush, Cirl Bunting and Crag Martin for the same reason. I missed what sounded like a calling Black Kite that disappeared behind some trees before I could get a decent view. Another missing species was Corn Bunting, very common on previous visits. We usually get a few sandpiper and plover species along the shoreline but the sun beds for hire etc have spread along the full extent of the beach also the streams entering the bay were much higher than usual, so no gravel beaches along them for LRPs.

Some species came very close the following were taken with an IPhone. The Audouin’s Gull was stealing the fish as they came near the surface trying to get away from the Shag. This gull had a nearly black bill, unlike most that showed more red.  

        Species List 

13/04 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR

Session: 13/04/2025 07:00 to 11:30hrs.

Present: IW,JL,RAD,IQ,DL.

Weather: bright, sunny, clear, warm, breezy

Nets: 198M long reed bed ride up from 07:30 to 11:00hrs.

Lures ():, None

Notes: 23 birds included a Blue Tit ringed in DL’s garden in 2021 as well as the anticipated Sedge and Reed Warblers. A steady session and think the cut along the 1A part of the ride may be reducing the capture. The next session in May will be Constant Effort Site Visit One and the phragmites should have grown considerably and hopefully enough to attract more  acrocephalus warblers.

Recaptures: (06)

Blue Tit   ringed: 19/12/2021-(DL's place), 10/09/2023.

Cetti’s Warbler ringed: 30/04/2023, 06/10/2024.

Dunnock ringed: 25/08/2024.

Reed Warbler ringed: 28/05/2023.

Sightings: A good species total included Reed and Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler; the last is scarce here over the last 5 or more years except for a few on passage. Heard the Water Rails at nets down.