Wednesday 14 March 2018

13/03 Greenham Common

Visited the Western Enclosure 13-Mar-2018 08:00 to 10:30hrs, just to see what might be there. The answer to this, as expected, not much. Put up the usual 48metres of net in three rides. Had some trouble with a tangled new net which Ian helped untangle when he arrived, so a bit of a delayed start; 07:30 had been the target. We captured two good birds though; a male and female Stonechat.
The male Stonechat a 1st winter with old greater coverts (two) and alula feathers ( the two wing feathers in the foreground nearest the "orange" breast feathers)
The female a 2nd winter at least, greater coverts and alula feathers all the same age. The light (and focus) is not so good in this photo, the bird was quite "grey" and had a washed out look.
Sightings 30 Species: Hoped for an early summer migrant but none seen or heard. The only winter migrants were a few Lesser Redpoll flying about. Very little movement across the heath. Greenfinch singing and displaying but where are the Chaffinches, usually a few singing this time of year but not today. Mistle Thrush seem to be more vocal than usual this week

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