22/08 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk 2025-34

Session: 22/08/2025 07:35 to 10:45hrs 

Notes: The second round of the day was very busy and was when most of today’s 29 birds were ringed. We play the Grasshopper lure in the hope of getting a migrant. Thought we has lost this one as it landed in the nets near my as I was taking out another bird and freed itself as I reached down to remove it from the bottom shelf of the net; fortunately, it flew straight into another net. This is only the 4th of this species we have ringed at this site, the last was in 2022 which is also the last time I saw/heard this species. Otherwise the species makeup is similar to the last few visits.

Present: JL,IW,NC.

Weather: overcast early sunshine later, 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: The only notable bird species the Grasshopper Warbler and nice to see a Grayling the only butterfly we saw this session. No finches or Blackbird detected.

19/08 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk 2025-34

Session: 19/08/2025 07:45 to 11:00hrs

Notes: The heath was relatively quiet today with fewer birds about. Best species - Garden Warbler, in three weeks they will have all left for Africa for the Winter. Was in Corfu this time last year so no matching 2024 visits for week 34.

Present: JL,IW,NC.

Weather: overcast, calm early light breeze later, cool.

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: The Swift was the best bird seen, its flight action seems a little wobbly which we thought might indicate it to be a recently fledged bird, its parents have already left forcing it to fledge. Not much else except a small flock of racing pigeons as opposed to feral birds flew north.

15/08 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk 2025-33

Session: 15/08/2025 07:45 to 11:10hrs

Notes: Willow Warbler made up about 30% of the capture and Blackcap about 20%. Otherwise, an adult Blue Tit was of note, the first 2nd summer bird ringed here this year so far. Still hoping for Grasshopper Warbler and Redstart. Week 32 to 34 we sometimes ring Tree Pipit but no sign of them so far this year on the Common.

Present: JL,IW,NC.

Weather: bright sunny clear, calm, hot.

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: Quite a lot of warbler activity on occasions out on the heath, a large flock of Jackdaw unusually flew south early, most counts are of them flying west out from the bunkers.

12/08 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk2025-33
Session: 12/08/2025 07:45 to 11:00hrs

Notes: Another steady session of just below 30 that included two more Firecrest and another Lesser Whitethroat. We caught the first Great Tits of the season here also the first Goldcrest; the former seems relatively scarce so far this year post breeding.

Present: JL,IW.

Weather: bright sunny clear, light breeze, hot.

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),(WY/GH),(RT) intermittently.

Recaptures: (01)

Whitethroat Ringed 08/08/2025

Sightings: Sparrowhawk flew through before I got there, Ravens both calling when I arrived. Lapwing flock flew north probably heading to Lower Farm GP. No sign of any Gatekeepers today, Butterflies were few. Another quiet morning movement-wise and finches particularly Chaffinch notable by their absence.

 

10/08 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 2025.11

Session: 10/08/2025 06:00 to 11:10hrs.

Present: JHW,IW,JL.

Weather: bright sunny clear, calm, warm.

Nets: one 198M long reed bed ride plus 12m scrub ride additional net up from 06:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lures (): None

Notes: The total for visit CES 2025.11 is 22, the 5 Chiffchaffs and 3 of the Blackcaps we from the scrub net. 22 is below the average of 36 for visit 11 (range 2006 – 11, 2021 – 85). It’s interesting that the higher total is from a recent year (2021) usually the big totals are from the early years. Comparison to last year’s matching visit shows the variety of species is poor this year. There was a mixed flock of mostly Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Phylos (probably all Chiffchaff), Goldcrest, Blackcap Treecreeper and others but they apparently stayed east of the stream traveling north in the scrub parallel to the nets. The Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the scrub net were some of this flock. Mid-session it went very quiet, and we had at least one blank net round. It got uncomfortably hot just before nets down. 

Recaptures: (06)

Cetti’s Warbler   ringed: 12/07/2025.

Dunnock             ringed: 22/09/2022.

Reed Warbler     ringed: 03/05/2025, 02/07/2025.

Wren                   ringed: 12/07/2025, 26/07/2025.

Sightings: No hirundine seen this session, apart from the mixed flock mentioned above nothing unexpected.