13/10 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Session: 13-Oct-2016 08:00 to 10:20hrs

Headlines: I did not think I would ring today as the forecast was for rain at 07:00 hrs and breezy. A look out the window shown a different story though, as it was calm a not raining. I decided to go along to the enclosure and maybe put up a net just to see if I could capture some Chiffchaffs. I want to see when they stop going through and also wanted to leave early to complete reinstating the feeding stations. I arrived to find my pending C ringer had anticipated my arrival and travelled down from Tilehurst. So I had no choice but to put up some nets. It was a good move as the first capture was a Goldcrest ringed elsewhere. It was the smallest capture of this week but still included a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap. Weather permitting we will see what turns up tomorrow.

Weather: Overcast with a few sunny periods, cool and a light breeze.

Present: JL, GB, IW

Nets: 48metres in three rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 08:15 to 10:00hrs

Lure (Audio): Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Yellow-browed Warbler, Redpoll, Redwing, Siskin intermittently.

Capture (New/Recapture) 10 (8/2): Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff, 1/0, Goldcrest 3/1, Robin 1/1

Recaptures: (2) A Robin ringed 23-Jul-2016 (83d) and a Goldcrest ringed elsewhere; it will be a month or two before we know where.

Age Range:  all 1st CY except for an adult Robin

Sightings 32 Species: As I arrived two Redpoll flew over calling and later a flock of about 30+ small finches flew in with a flock of Redwings and landed in the trees by the cattle feed station. Ian went over to try and get an ID but could not find them. They were in a relatively loose flock so probably Redpolls as Siskins are usually in tighter “dancing” flocks, unfortunately we will never know! Quite a lot of Redwing activity today, most of them still ground feeding on Sandleford heath; no Fieldfare here yet. An over flying Snipe had probably been disturbed off the heath by walkers.

Blackbird 8+ Blackcap 1+ Carrion Crow 3+ Chaffinch 7+ Chiffchaff 2+ Coal Tit 1+ Dartford Warbler 1+ Dunnock 3+ Goldcrest 8+ Green Woodpecker 3+ Greenfinch c2 Grey Wagtail 2+ Jackdaw 10+ Jay 2+ Kestrel Lesser Redpoll 2+

Long-tailed Tit 4+ Magpie 2+ Mistle Thrush 1+ Nuthatch 1+ Red Kite 1 Redwing 75+ Reed Bunting 2+ Robin 7+ Rook 1+ Skylark 1+ Snipe 1 Stock Dove 2+ Stonechat 1+ Woodlark 6 Woodpigeon 15+ Wren 4+