05/04 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Session: 05-Apr-2016 07:15 to 11:15hrs

Headlines: Thought I would try another session here before the breeding season get into full swing. Willow Warblers are returning, moving through. Not sure where the Coal Tits came from or were going to; they were a pair though so could just be looking for a territory or the male escorting the female on a feeding trip. The only species captured in breeding condition was the Blackbird. Thought I would try the crest audio as the habitat in the enclosure is not crest breeding habitat.

Weather: Sunny, chilly light wind

Present: JL,IW

Nets: 48metres two 18m net rides and a 12m net ride up from 07:30 to 10:30hrs

Lure (audio): Goldcrest, Firecrest intermittently for the last 2 hours of the session. Any other species song might affect territories etc.

Capture (New/Recapture) 7 (7/0): Blackbird 1/0, Coal Tit 2/0, Dunnock 1/0, Willow Warbler 3/0

Recaptures: None

Age Range: All 1st winter except the Willow Warblers were indeterminate

Sightings 36 Species: The list below is a point count and will differ from Ian’s list on BirdTrack as he walks back through the woods. I keep saying it but the lack of passerines activity, particularly finches and tits, is noticeable. Could only find one Stonechat, I know where one nest was being built but no sign today of the pair, which is a bit concerning. The Dartford Warblers were male and female and I saw the latter carrying nest material the other day. A couple of Willow Warblers were singing with the Chiffchaffs along the margins of the heath also a lone Great Tit and Chaffinch. Expected to hear a Blackcap, they are in the valley. The Ringed Plover on the Fire Plane Gravel appears to have survived Easter weekend or another has appeared as I could not find it last week; Rose saw it fly in today and said one was there a few days back. As is usual the Golden Plover flock is still around into April, many are in breeding plumage so I expect they will be off in the next week or so. There was still a good flock of Goldfinch (15) at the feeder when I topped it up on the way out and a couple of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. There is very little else there except for singing Chiffchaff. The April/May period is usually the least active portion of the year for my ringing as breeding is in full swing; nest box checking and the CES beginning in May will be the next priority after I get back from a break or two.

Blackbird c8 Buzzard 2 Canada Goose 3 Carrion Crow 4 Chaffinch c1 Chiffchaff c3 Coal Tit 2 Cormorant 3 Dartford Warbler c2 Dunnock c3 Feral Pigeon 1 Golden Plover c80 Goldfinch c1 Great Spotted Woodpecker c1 Great Tit c1 Green Woodpecker c2 Greenfinch c2 Jackdaw c14

Jay 2 Linnet c4 Long-tailed Tit c2 Magpie 5 Mallard 3 Meadow Pipit c2 Mistle Thrush c2 Pheasant 1 Raven 2 Red Kite 3 Robin c2 Song Thrush c3 Stock Dove 2 Stonechat 1 Willow Warbler c5 Woodlark c2 Woodpigeon c15 Wren c1