06/04 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR

Session: 06/04/2025 07:00 to 11:15hrs.

Present: IW,JL,CMD,RAD,LC.

Weather: bright, sunny, clear, cool warm later, light breeze.

Nets: 198M long reed bed ride up from 07:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lures ():, None

Notes: The first session at the CES site this year. The reeds have been cut to the west of the 1a portion of the ride. This is a regular cut in rotation to maintain the phragmites reed and why the ride is recorded in two sections (1A and 2A) so that we get overlap for the CES scheme – 2A was cut a year or so before the Covid epidemic. Also, during the winter the “electricity generating board” cut the reed and laid a temporary road along the line of the overhead cable when replacing existing pylons, cables etc with new.  Not much activity on the reed bed or surrounding scrub, it’s a bit early for here in recent times. Hopefully next week there will be a few Sedge Warblers to ring.

Recaptures: (03)

Blackbird ringed:18/05/2019

Blue Tit   ringed: 10/09/2023

Cetti’s Warbler ringed: 06/10/2024

Sightings: No acrocephalus warblers yet. A Great White Egret, seen by RAD/JL when putting nets up, flew west-ish disappearing behind the tree line before we could get good views. A Mallard with about 6 small ducklings was on the stream adjacent the ride. LC thought she saw a Firecrest (but not 100%) when minding the ringing table while we were doing a net round. We couldn’t find it when we returned but it’s not far from where one was seen along the track to Prince Hold Lane recently.

Otherwise much as expected.