21/07 Greenham Common

 Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk 2026 wk30-Tue

Session: 21/07/2026 07:40 to 10:50hrs

Present: IW, JL, KMB.

Weather: clear sunny, hot light breeze.

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

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

Silver-washed Fritillary: we saw two of these here a couple of weeks ago.

This image taken at Boxford Common on the 16/07/2026.

Notes: an enjoyable morning that went very quickly, 35 birds is the best session total here so far this year, and included what probably constitutes a post breeding flock of Blue Tit these days. No Willow Warblers again, the average capture per session for week 30 is 6, so far this year we have ringed just 1; no Chiffchaff either, only one calling from the edge of the woodland to the north. The Dunnock was the only adult encountered and was in full wing moult. 5 of the 12 primary wing feathers were old the rest were in various stages of growing from pin to 75% long.

Recaptures: (01)

Dunnock ringed: 17/11/2023

Sightings: Not many species recorded, we were busy ringing sometimes so probably missed a species or two not that there was much activity around us. Mistle Thrush are scare this summer, this individual is the first I’ve seen since late May. Usually there are family parties over and around at this time. Also unusual at this end of the common is Chaffinch. My perception is that they have not bred here for the last two or three years.