24/03 Snelsmore Feeder

Location: Snelsmore Common Feeder

Session: 24-Mar-2017 07:15 to 11:15hrs

Headlines: The last session here of the winter and as expected not very productive. Most of the capture was from the scrub net. We captured four Chaffinch but one released due to papilloma virus infected claw. The nearest matching 2016 session on the 25-Mar is an additional session. The main second half March visit for 2016 was 10 days earlier on the 15-Mar and 67 birds were captured; mostly Siskin; these have not visited any of the feeder this winter. Just the Greenham Feeder late March visit to go, after this the feeders will be run down until next year.

Weather: overcast, cool, light to fresh wind.

Present: JL, IW

Nets: 24metres a 6m net each side of feeder and a 12m net in scrub west of it, up from 07:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lure (feeder): Fat Balls, Black Sunflower, Peanuts, Niger.

Capture (New/Recapture)

14(8/6)	16(7/6) nearest matching 25-Mar-2016
Species New Rtp 1stCY 2nd+CY BLUTI 3 4 4 3 CHAFF 3 3 GRETI 1 1 1 1 NUTHA 1 indeterminate WREN 1 1	Species New Rtp 1stCY 2nd+CY BLUTI 1 1 2 COATI 1 1 1 1 GRETI 3 2 1 LOTTI 4 1 indeterminate NUTHA 1 indeterminate SISKI 1 2 2 1

Recaptures: (6) Blue Tit 2y 138d, 1y 96d, 61d Great Tit 121d Nuthatch 315d

Sightings 22 Species: Red Kite and Buzzard quite active both look to be nesting in the Firs across the road. The Ravens not heard or seen today, probably sitting on eggs. Most resident species are in song on territory. Quite a few crows flying about, sorting out territories.