03/06 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES visit 2017.04

Session: 03-Jun-2017 05:35 to 10:20hrs

Headlines: The reed bed is still relatively quiet with very few Sedge Warblers; the norm for recent years now that most migrants have moved on. A few more than usual juvenile Blue Tits is encouraging and they were feeding in the reeds. 29 in the standard nets is below the average of 37 for visit 04 range 2005-21 and 1993-51. Both the Sedge and Reed Warbler capture is down for the visit; the former more so. As can be seen below last year’s visit 04 was a much better show. The Jay captured on the last visit was recaptured again must have a nest nearby.

Weather: Bright, sunny, warm, breezy

Present: JL, IW, DL, JPM, GB, RGS

Nets: 234metres in 3 rides; 108m+90m standards reed bed ride and two 18M, 18M scrub rides up from 06:10 to 10:10hrs

Lure (none):

Capture (New/Recapture)

33(18/15)	44(24/20) 04-Jun-2016 CES 2016.04
Species New Retrap Juv Adult BLABI 1 1 BLUTI 7 6 1 BULLF 1 1 CHIFF 2 2 DUNNO 1 1 2 JAY  1 1 REEWA 5 9 14 ROBIN 2 2 SEDWA 3 3	Species New Retrap Juv Adult BLABI 1 1 2 BLUTI 1 1 CHIFF 2 2 1 3 GRSWO 1 1 LOTTI 1 1 MUTSW 1 1 REEBU 1 1 REEWA 12 10 22 ROBIN 2 2 SEDWA 2 5 7 TREEC 2 2

Recaptures: (15) Bullfinch 289d Dunnock 4y 57d Reed Warbler 2y 331d, 1y 333d, 1y 320d, 364d 322d, Sedge Warbler 364d others recent.
Sightings 47 Species: Ian’s bird list for the morning included a singing Grasshopper Warbler in the scrub when he arrived and additional to this list Duncan saw a Peregrine. Cetti’s Warbler were very vocal as were Water Rail after last visits no show. Great Tit are scarce though!