26/08 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk 2025-35

Session: 26/08/2025 07:35 to 11:00hrs

Notes: It started spotting with rain as soon as I got in my car but as I knew that IW was already on the common I continued. – he usually arrived early to have a walk round the area before we start. It was spotting for much of the session occasionally increasing to a light shower. Twice we went to the enclosure intending to take the nets down but each time it stopped as we were extracting birds, so we persevered. Just before 10:00hrs the cloud lifted somewhat, and the rain stopped. The Reed Warbler was not unexpected; we ring one or two here each year. This one is the first for 2025, we’ve ringed 22 here since 2012. Not a species seen in heathland habitat normally. Blackcap were moving through the heath but not in the numbers of last year’s matching visit see schedule below. By the time we left site the sun began to shine as the cloud fragmented.

Present: JL,IW.

Weather: rain spotting until about 09:45, overcast, light wind then calm, warm.

Nets: 48metres 3 Rides, up from 08:00 to 10:30 hrs.

Lures audio: (BC-CC-FC-GC-GW-WH-LW-WO),(YW-WC-W.-TP-RT-RZ),(GH),(RT) intermittently.

Recaptures: (00)

Sightings: Except for the Starling flocks there was little activity. The Swallows in two groups were flying straight through South. Some of below IW recorded before I got there. It been a while since we had Song Thrush on the heath, like most soft-bills they are sheltering in woodland in the dry hot conditions.