Wednesday, 28 October 2015

28/10 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure
Session: 28-Oct-2015 07:15 to 11:30hrs
Weather: Overcast, misty, calm, with sunny periods late morning
Present: JL, RJC, IW
Nets: 160’ in three rides of 60’, 60’ and 40’ up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs
Lure (audio): Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Reed Bunting, Latvian Redwing, Siskin, Redpoll and Yellow-browed Warbler; intermittently.
Capture (New/Recapture) 21:
Blackcap 1/0
Blue Tit 1/2
Goldcrest 11/0
Reed Bunting 4/1
Wren 1/0
 
Recaptures: 3
Blue Tit 2y 94d, 1y 315d Reed Bunting 24d (ringed Thatcham Marsh LNR)
Age Range: all 1st winter except
Adults Blue Tit 2, Reed Bunting 1

Notes: As they say “what a difference a day makes”. Last night the forecast for Greenham was rain all morning, so I didn’t expect to be ringing. At 05:00hrs a look at the local forecast showed no rain, low cloud and 3-5mph wind speed; ideal conditions. As I was putting up the first net I heard a Reed Bunting calling so I put on their calls. Sure enough, not just one Reed Bunting but five, one from Thatcham Marsh. As with all recent sessions here and elsewhere Goldcrest dominated the capture. The Blackcap was unexpected not sure if it is a late migrant out or a wintering northern European bird in.

Sightings 31 Species: Blackbirds alarming early; probably an owl in the woods. The Shoveler and Gadwall came from the direction of Sandleford Lakes. A Chiffchaff flew across the heath ignoring the audio. Woodlark made an appearance; they always seem to be there somewhere depends if they fly or not. A flock of 29 Fieldfare flew west and Redwing appeared to be flying about. Some took a fleeting interest in the Latvian song but did not land; most be from some other part of Europe.
Blackbird 12
Blackcap 1
Black-headed Gull 1
Blue Tit 4
Carrion Crow 6
Chiffchaff 1
Coal Tit 2
Dartford Warbler 1
Fieldfare 29
Gadwall 13
Goldfinch 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Green Woodpecker 2
Jackdaw 20
Jay 2
Kestrel 1
 
Lesser Redpoll 1
Long-tailed Tit 10
Magpie 4
Pied Wagtail 2
Redwing 34
Reed Bunting 5
Robin 5
Rook 1
Shoveler 1
Siskin 2
Skylark 2
Starling 12
Woodlark 4
Woodpigeon 30
Wren 4