18/10 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Session: 18-10-2018 07:40 to 11:30hrs

Headlines: It was obvious on arrival that today would be different. There was a lot of activity from the start with flocks of Redwing over and Reed Bunting calling as I put the nets up. We last ringed Blackcap here on the 10^th Oct so two today was good; are they late leavers or early wintering birds though? Four more Chiffchaff brings the week 42 total to eight; a check back on previous years showed this to be a about 50% down on 2014, 2015 and 2016 surprisingly. We didn’t ring week 42 in 2017. I think I was ill around this time. Another Firecrest was the bird of the day and was ringed as two inquisitive ladies queried what we were doing. Showing them a species they had never heard off sent them on their way happy; good PR. There was a lot of Blackbird activity through the session and the one we ringed showed characteristics of being from northern Europe. Another enjoyable session.

Weather: overcast and sunny periods, light breeze, cool.
Present: JL, IW, RJC
Nets: 42metres in three rides of 18m, 18m, 12m up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs.
Lure (audio): Redwing, playlists: BCCCFCGC, Autumn

Capture (New/Recapture) 14(14/00)	Matching Visit: none
Species New Rtp Juv Adult BLABI 1 1 BLACA 2 2 BLUTI 3 3 CHIFF 4 4 FIREC 1 1 GOLDC 1 1 GRETI 2 2	Species New Rtp Juv Adult

Recaptures: none

1st winter male Firecrest

Sightings 38 Species: Fieldfare today is the first sighting for me this Autumn. Redwings were arriving some dropping into nearby woodland. Several Blackbirds were flying about, few have been found on the common recently. Golden Plover is another recently returned species. Some Pied Wagtail dropped in probably attracted by the large puddles, but also I think by the calls of other species that we played. Several species appeared to be on the move. How different to yesterday when there was little sign of anything but local avian activity.