12 & 19/04 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR

Session:   12/04/2026 07:35 to 11:20hrs

                   19/04/2026 07:30 to 11:20hrs

Present:   JHW, IW, IQ.

                   JHW, IW, CMD + JL late morning

Weather: cold and strong breeze

                   Warm, sunny clear, light breeze.

Nets: Ride 1A 5x18M nets, Ride 2A 1x18M nets up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs (both sessions).

Lures (none):

The 1st Winter female Redstart ringed on the visit dated 20/04/2026. This is the first Redstart ringed at Thatcham Marsh since May 1989. NRG have ringed seven on this site, the first being Aug 1970. In total we have ringed 52 individuals over seven sites mostly along the Kennet valley. We have re-trapped just one previously ringed bird - a juvenile female at Greenham Common on the 29/08/2017. It had been ringed as a nestling on the 12/06/2017 at Locker Low Wood nr Hawnby, North Yorkshire (78 days,330Km ) None of the  Redstarts ringed by NRG have been reported re-trapped.

Notes: Just back from a weeks break I was absent for the 12/04/2026 visit and arrived late just in time to see the Redstart ringed on the  20/04/2026 visit. The first visit was affected by the wind, and both visits had a reduced number of nets erected which may have resulted in the relatively poor totals. Reed Warblers were present singing on both visits but remain in the reeds except for one. Similarly, Sedge Warblers were present on both visits.

FG = age indeterminate

Recaptures: (04) 12/04/2026

Cetti’s Warbler ringed: 28/09/2025, 12/10/2025.

Chiffchaff ringed: 29/06/2025.

Reed Warbler ringed: 21/08/2025.

 

Recaptures: (03) 19/04/2026

Chiffchaff ringed: 12/04/2026.

Long-tailed Tit ringed: 12/10/2025.

Reed Warbler ringed: 10/05/2025.