Notes: It was quite hot this session even early morning. Some have
the impression that we are not ringing as many Reed and Sedge Warblers as in
the past, however looking at the last nine years 2017 to 2026 (we were not able
to ring in 2020 due to covid restrictions) our total for CES visit 3 this year
is about average over the period. 21 Reed Warblers in 2021 after a pause of a
year is interesting but probably a coincidense! Sedge Warbler numbers have been dropping for some years
now; it is a species moving its range north due to global warming - Willow
Warbler similarly is moving north for the same reason. We have been regularly ringing
this site since the 1960s although visits were not as structured as they are for CES ringing.
However, both species numbers have reduced, also Reed Bunting were once found
here in good numbers but are at just one pair in the vicinity of the reed bed net
ride so far this year. Reed beds at Thatcham Marsh have much reduced since 1967
when the group formed. Many (most) former extensive reed beds are now angling
pits following gravel extraction, and most others are overgrown with scrub with
fragmented areas of reed. So a reduction in numbers is not unexpected.
Sightings: Some gulls feeding high on (invisible to us) flying insect - probably small dragonflies or similar. The male Kestrel was again hunting over the former waste tip hill and flying over SSW towards the escarpment woodland below Greenham & Crookham Common sometimes carrying small prey. Goldcrest were singing again after being relatively quiet for the last two visits. Otherwise much as expected though few hirundine and no Chaffinch detected.
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