18/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure (wk42)
Session: 18/10/2022 07:45 to 11:15 hrs

Notes: Activity curtailed by the fog. As I was putting the nets up, I heard a Brambling in the fog, calling flying west. Had to think what it was for a moment or two, my 1st of the 2nd winter period. It looked to be an uneventful morning until three dogs chased something into the enclosure and squeezed under the wire after it. Fortunately, in the hope of some Redwings showing an interest I had set the nets quite high so don’t think they damaged the nets. I chased them around the enclosure trying to get them out, then I heard, quite away off, the familiar whining voice of some bloke calling “Poppy”. The dogs were two Beagles and a terrier type, outside the enclosure a white whippet and another white poodle type: the Beagle people are hunting the common again. The first Blackbird of the season today, probably a local from the wing length, They are scarce at this end of the common this year, probably due to the draught in the summer, I don’t think many survived it. Last season (2021) we had ringed 16 week 24 to 42, it is not a species we target though but we usually ring a few each year by now.

Present: JL
Weather: Thick fog, calm, cool, the sun didn’t break through until I was taking the nets down
Nets: 48metres 3 Rides, 18M, 18M and 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures: BC-CC-FC-GC, Thrushes, Yellow-browed Warbler, Brambling, intermittently.

Recaptures: (None)

 

Sightings: Probably missed several species  due to the fog, Only managed to detect 2 Jackdaws for a start, and no Carrion Crows.