18/01 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common 616 Feeder.

Session: 18/01/2026 07:45 to 11:30hrs

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

Weather: overcast, light rain briefly at the start, foggy for most of the session, calm, cold.

Nets: 6+6M feeder nets up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs.

Lures (Feeder): 2xsunflower hearts, peanuts.

A newer bigger perch feeder installed at the Greenham Feeder together with the bigger of the older perch feeders; these are all but emptied every third day – about 4kgs of sunflower hearts replenishment each visit.

Notes: In recent years the Greenham Common 616 Feeder attracts a better species variety than the Snelsmore Common Feeder, also unlike Snelsmore there are still good numbers of Great Tit this side of Newbury. Ringing today included double figures of both Goldfinch and Greenfinch, the best session totals of the latter for some years. A ring-able Chaffinch is unusual as most of the local population has papilloma infected legs and claws and we cannot ring them. Sadly, two Greenfinch were also released at the net as they had this infection. A good session in uncomfortable conditions - damp and cold.

Recaptures: (21)

Blue Tit ringed: 22/10/2023, 03/03/2024, 26/10/2025x4, 09/11/2025, 23/11/2025, 21/12/2025x4.

Great Tit ringed: 12/03/2023, 03/03/2024, 03/03/2025, 05/11/2025, 26/10/2025, 09/11/2025, 23/11/2025, 21/12/2025.

Goldfinch ringed: 26/10/2025.

Robin ringed: 02/02/2025

Sightings: Mostly IW’s list – A Raven was noisily proclaiming territory. Two Song Thrushes singing occasionally during the morning, also a Coal Tit was singing in the trees above the feeder, fly-over Siskin heard a couple of time but not visible in the fog, also the Kestrel was heard calling only. Sightings limited due to the fog that eventually lifted late in the session.