01/11 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure
Session: 01-Nov-2016 07:30 to 10:30hrs

Headlines: I arrived in very dense fog that made everything damp. Redpolls calling in the Enclosure scrub had possibly roosted there. Four Goldcrest trapped while erecting the nets suggested a good session but unlike recent sessions no more Goldcrests were captured. The next round included another late migrant/wintering Blackcap and a juvenile Sparrowhawk that after an easy injury free extraction got me in the fleshy part of my hand with its claw as I put it in the bag. The next round included the first Lesser Redpoll of the season and Redwings. We captured six Redwings in total and another Redpoll. The fog after appearing to start clearing thickened up again and the nets got very damp. I had to finish promptly to collect a granddaughter otherwise would probably have stayed for more Redwings and Redpoll.

Weather: Dense Fog thinning before becoming dense again, cold, dank and damp, calm with occasional gusts.

Present: JL, GB, IW, RJC

Nets: 66 metres in four rides of 18M, 18M, 12M, 18M up from 07:45 to 10:00hrs

Lure (audio): Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Redwing, Redpoll

Capture (New/Recapture) 14 (14/0):

Species	New	Rtps	1st CY	Adults
Blackcap	1		1
Goldcrest	4		4
Lesser Redpoll	2		2
Redwing	6		4	2
Sparrowhawk	1		1

Recaptures: None

Todays 1st CY Sparrowhawk note pale yellow iris and brown plumage see the 30/10 blog for adult eye colour

The first Lesser Redpoll the winter a 1st CY

Sightings 22 Species: Difficult in the fog to see let alone ID over-flyers. The flock of Teal were probably heading for Lower Farm GPs.  A few more Redpolls about today, not as many Redwings though.