24/10 Snelsmore Common Feeder

Location: Snelsmore Common Feeder
Session: 24/10/2021, 07:30 to 11:20hrs
Notes: The first session at a feeder this winter. Processing 60 birds is a bit different to just a few at most at Greenham Common this time of year. We had some re-traps of pulli ringed this spring in nearby nest boxes and one from further away; Mount Hill on the Bagnor Estate. No Coal Tits is interesting, we normally have relatively good numbers at this feeder. We have a suspicion that they may have had a poor breeding season this year.  
Present: JL,IW,JHW
Weather: Overcast poor light some brightness later, mostly calm, cold.
Nets: 12metres in 2 rides of 6M up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs
Lures: Audio:  Fat Balls, Niger, Black Sunflowers, Peanuts

Recaptures:(14)
Blue Tit           ringed 11/11/2018,
                       pulli    25/05/2021x2 box CP25, 26/05/2021 box A04 (Mount Hill)
                                 29/05/2021x2 box CP28, 2905/2021 box WH09
                                 31/05/2021 box CP03, 31/05/2021 box CP04, 06/06/2021 box CP15
Great Tit        pulli     22/05/2021 box WH05, 22/05/2021 box WH14, 22/05/2021 box WH22
Treecreeper  ringed 10/11/2019

Sightings: Not really much time to count, most species heard only and the tree canopy here limits the field of view; probably missed some species.

22/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure Week 42
Session: 22/10/2021, 07:40 to 11:10hrs

Notes: The breeze was almost as strong as yesterday and it looked like we were going to get another poor capture if any. It wasn’t until 09:30hrs that we found a Chiffchaff in the bottom shelf of the net. While IW extracted it, I saw a Blue Tit bounce out of the billowing net back into the scrub. As we were leaving the Blue Tit tried again but this time was entrapped in the top shelf, so what looked like a session without any ringing was avoided. I had to leave promptly as I was meeting my former PA for lunch and a catch-up. Expecting to find only one or two more if any we visited the nets 15 minutes to nets down expecting a blank only to find eleven Blue Tits and a Goldcrest in the nets. We extracted these which took until 10:25 and processing took another 15minutes. So, no prompt departure. On returning to the nets IW spotted something biggish in one of the nets that was a Jay, not the easiest bird to extract. I took down one of the other nets and then started taking the second net down when a Goldcrest appeared in the bottom shelf, wasn’t there when I started, nor did I see it go in. I had to partially re-erect the net to extract it. We finished taking the nets down and gathered up the audio equipment and returned to the car to ring the two birds. First the Goldcrest, no problem. By now we were well passed the 11:00hrs deadline for me to be back home and in my haste to ring the Jay I allowed my index finger within pecking distance of  the Jay’s bill, and it proceeded to painfully rip at the skin of my knuckle drawing blood in two places. I manage to make my 12:30 appointment and if you want a reasonably prices quality posh meal try the Palm Brasserie at Deane near Overton, excellent food, and service.

Present: JL,IW
Weather: Strong west south-westerly breeze, sunny, cold
Nets: 48metres in 3 rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures Audio:  BC-CC-FC-GC, Yellow-browed Warbler, BR-LR-SK, FF-RE

Recaptures:(05)

Blue Tit ringed 24/10/2019, 18/08/2020, 27/08/2020, 27/07/2021, 16/09/2021

Sightings: More passage Gulls this time going west, a darkish morph Buzzard, a flock of Chaffinches going west, also Skylarks and a few bars of song from a Woodlark; windy cloudy weather seems to make them want to sing even in the autumn.  Also, a flock of crows over southeast-ish.

21/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure Week 42
Session: 21/10/2021, 07:40 to 10:55hrs
Notes: the strong westerly breeze made conditions hostile to mist net ringing. I have done well here in the past in such conditions. Not today though with just one re-captured Great Tit for the whole of the session and that was ringed here 13/07/2021 as a juvenile.
Present: JL,IW,IQ
Weather: Strong westerly breeze, cloudy clearing to sunny, cold
Nets: 48metres in 3 rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures Audio:  BC-CC-FC-GC, Yellow-browed Warbler, BR-LR-SK, FF-RE.

Sightings: There was a bit of a passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls south, and the Buzzard and Red Kites seemed to enjoy the strong breeze updraft. A lone Fieldfare took a brief interest in the audio as did the relatively few Redwings. It was quiet on the bird front especially after the east drifting clouds clear away.

18/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure Week 42
Session: 18/10/2021, 07:40 to 10:50hrs
Notes: Quiet, few birds around. The first time since August that no Chiffchaffs ringed, did hear one calling just after nets down. Getting near the end of the season now
Present: JL
Weather: Overcast calm then increasing easterly breeze, cool
Nets: 48metres in 3 rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures Audio:  BC-CC-FC-GC, Yellow-browed Warbler, BR-LR-SK, FF-RE, Meadow Pipit

Recaptures:(01)

Blue Tit                      ringed 22/10/2020

 

Sightings: A comparatively few Redwings over southwest and a Herring Gull the best bird. Picked up two Skylarks going west in the background when checking out bigger birds, probably more going over. They are normally high up, so I don’t usually pick them up unless they call. A Redpoll flew over calling the first of the autumn for me.

15/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure Week 41
Session: 15/10/2021, 07:35 to 10:45hrs
Notes: Summer migrant numbers tailed off this week. More Redwings attracted by the audio, but none netted. The Goldfinch was a bright male with immaculate fresh plumage.
Present: JL,IW
Weather: Overcast dark low cloud that lifted later, calm early then light northerly breeze, cool
Nets: 48metres in 3 rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures Audio:  BC-CC-FC-GC, Yellow-browed Warbler, BR-LR-SK, FF-RE, Meadow Pipit

Recaptures:(none)

Sightings: Apart from the continuing Redwing passage the heath was quiet. Radar shows  the Redwings are heading to and many have arrived in France. The were several small finches with some of the flocks, but difficult to be sure of ID against the light.