30/10 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR

Session: 30-Oct-2016 07:00 to 11:30hrs

Headlines: When the clocks go back it always causes a little confusion but this time I think we got it right.  A couple of Chiffchaffs seen, unfortunately one got out of the net before we got to it and two Blackcaps both females ringed showed there to be a few warblers still around. No big flocks to capture this week. The Coal Tit is unusual, we often hear a wanderer go through this time of year but seldom capture one here. An adult male Sparrowhawk is probably the best capture of the day. The injury to the eye pupil is interesting. Possibly the last visit of the year; we might try the odd visit during the winter if the weather stays mild.

Weather: overcast light fog early, cool, calm

Present: JL, IW, JHW, SC, RGS

Nets: 228metres in 3 rides of 108M+90M, 18M, 12M up from 07:45 to 11:00hrs

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

Capture (New/Recapture) 28 (18/10)



Species	New	Retrap	1st CY	Adult	Ind
Blackbird	1		1
Blackcap	2		2
Blue Tit	1	1	1
Cetti's Warbler		3	3
Coal Tit	1		1
Dunnock	2		1	1
Goldcrest	5	1	6
Great Tit	2	1	3
Long-tailed Tit		1			1
Sparrowhawk	1			1
Wren	3	3	5	1

 

Recaptures: (10) Blue Tit 1y 146d, Wren 1y 62d others less than 100days

Today's male Sparrowhawk, the orange iris as opposed to the pale yellow  of a 1st CY indicates it to be an adult. The second photo shows the same bird from the other side zoomed  in to show the iris defect. Not sure the image it would see but reaching adulthood it seems it has not affected its wellbeing.

Sightings 40 Species: A good species count today but not much over-flying. A possible Swallow flashed through west and behind the trees before we could get a good enough view to be sure. Best birds the Green Sandpiper over North and a calling Marsh Tit.

Blackbird 5+ Blackcap 2+ Black-headed Gull 12+ Blue Tit 6+ Bullfinch 3+ Buzzard 1+ Canada Goose 4+ Carrion Crow 3 Cetti's Warbler 8+ Chaffinch 8+ Chiffchaff 2+ Coal Tit 2+ Coot 3+ Cormorant 7 Dunnock 4+ Goldcrest 8+ Goldfinch 3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker 1+ Great Tit 3+ Green Sandpiper 1

Green Woodpecker 2+ Grey Wagtail 3+ Jackdaw 2+ Little Grebe 4+ Magpie 3 Mallard 1+ Marsh Tit 1+ Meadow Pipit 1+ Moorhen 5+ Redwing 12+ Reed Bunting 3+ Robin 6+ Siskin 2+ Skylark 3+ Sparrowhawk 1 Starling 2+ Teal 2+ Water Rail 2+ Woodpigeon 10+ Wren 10+