15/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common - Western Enclosure wk42

Session: 17/10/2024 07:45 to 11:10hrs

Notes: Getting to the tail end of summer migration so not much activity today. Flocks of Redwing responded to the audio lure, dropping down into the enclosure, but none went into the nets unfortunately, maybe next time!

Present: JL.

Weather: overcast damp misty, cold, breezy

Nets: 48metres 3 Rides, up from 08:00 to 10:30 hrs.

Lures audio: (BC-CC-FC-GC), (Misc Migrants), (RE-FF-RZ-ST), (YB) intermittently.

Recaptures: (03)

Blue Tit    ringed: 04/08/2023, 30/08/2024.

Robin       ringed: 10/07/2024

Sightings: One set of ears and eyes today. Couldn’t see much in the murk anyway. Don’t think much was moving though. Flocks of Redwing swirled round the enclosure occasionally then disappearing into the mist. No sign of any Fieldfare yet.

13/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common 616 Feeder

Session: 13/10/2024 07:45 to 11:30hrs

Notes: First feeder visit of the coming winter and mostly the expected species ringed. The Redwing (RE) audio brought down well over 50 into the scrub unfortunately none netted. The audio also pulled in four Goldcrest and possibly a Bullfinch and Song Thrush although no lures played for these (perhaps just attracted by the commotion) The weather was pretty good by recent standards if a bit cool.

Present: JL,IW,JHW,DL.

Weather: overcast, some sunny periods, calm, cool.

Nets: 2x3M feeder nets + 3 rides of 12, 12, 10m scrub nets.

Lures (Feeder): Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts

(Audio): BC,CC,GC,FC,RT,RE,YB intermittently at scrub nets.

Recaptures:(06)

Blue  Tit              ringed: 29/10/2023, 14/01/2024, 24/07/2024(Western Enclosure).

Great Tit             ringed: 27/11/2022, 10/03/2024, 07/04/2024

Sighting: Probably missed a few as ringing was steady but not busy. We had no trouble separating Redwings from Song Thrush today. If you watch carefully their flight action is a little different, more of an “intermittent” flap of wings than Song Thrush.

11/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure wk41

Session: 11/10/2024 07:45 to 11:10hrs

Notes: Two more Blackcap today, and after the no show of the last visit, seven Chiffchaff. Otherwise much as expected including five Goldcrest and some resident species, maybe the Robins were visitors though.

Present: JL,IW.

Weather: bright sunny clear, cold early cool later, calm

Nets: 48metres 3 Rides, up from 08:00 to 10:30 hrs.

Lures audio: (BC,CC,FC,CC), (Misc Migrants), (Thrushes), (YB) intermittently. 

Recaptures: (02)

Blue Tit           ringed: 26/07/2024

Great Tit         ringed: 03/03/2024 (Greenham Common Feeder)

Sightings: There was a passage of Woodpigeon south in small groups, also Black-headed Gulls west in two flocks. Jackdaw were also moving south in numbers, flying over from the north (the usual count is of them flying out from the bunkers but just a few, mostly pairs flew out today). A few mostly finch types but also some thrushes when over unidentified even in today’s good light. One of the Dartford Warblers was singing and displaying in the sun. A butterfly probably a Red Admiral flew over too fast to be sure of ID.

09/10 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure wk41

Session: 09/10/2024 07:45 to 11:00hrs

Notes: Just two Blackcap today and no Chiffchaff unlike 2023 when we ringed 16.. A Firecrest was in the net on the first net round but got out as we approached. A Dartford Warbler, looked like a juvenile, was in the enclosure when we did the last full round but avoided the nets.

Present: JL,IW.

Weather: Overcast, calm, cool.

Nets: 48metres 3 Rides, up from 08:00 to 10:30 hrs.

Lures audio: (Warbler), (Misc Migrants), (Thrushes), (YB) intermittently.

Recaptures: (02)

Blue Tit                        ringed: 19/08/2021

Great Tit         ringed: 04/10/2024

Sightings: Swallows flew south mostly singletons. There were several thrushes flying about, many along the tree line to the south, we think they were mostly Song Thrush, but the light was poor, and we couldn’t see enough details to get positive ID’s for most. At least one was a Redwing as IW managed to get a good view of the under-wing. A few finch/pipit flew over again the light level impeded ID. The ducks came up from the Lakes over towards Sandleford.

06/10 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham March LNR.

Session: 06/10/2024 07:30 to 11:30hrs

Notes: We expected to be rained off sometime during the morning, but the expected (forecast) rain didn’t arrive and still hasn’t at 12:30hrs. The lack of species probably reflects the poor numbers here through the summer. It is unlikely that we will ring the reed bed again this year, hopefully we will have a better year 2025.

Present: JL,JHW,IW,DL,KMB.

Weather: overcast, calm, cool.

Nets: 54metres in one reed bed ride 36m,36m,18m net along ride up from  08:00 to 11:00hrs

Lures (audio): (Warbler), (Misc Migrants),(Thrushes),(YB) intermittently.

Recaptures:(03)

Cetti’s Warbler   ringed: 30/04/2023.

Robin                  ringed: 23/06/2024.

Wren                   ringed: 14/07/2024.

Sighting: Water Rail quite vocal this session, at least two “squealing” during the morning  Raven

flew over early, a couple of small flocks of Long-tailed Tits went through, just a single Blackcap

heard. A lone Pheasant, a scarce species at this site this year, probably a refugee from a nearby

shoot.