22/05 Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 3

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 3
Session: 22-May-2016 05:30 to 11:00hrs

Headlines: Another poor visit 3 but nearer the norm for this site over the past five years. For the 24 year period of the CES 29 from the standard nets is below the average of 34; range 2002 18 1993 51 and running at about 75% of the average for the cumulative total over the three visits. Reed and Sedge Warbler seem down probably because the reed is looking moribund; it needs a cut and clear out to get some light to the rhizomes. There is little sign of the reeds matching the heights of last year’s growth except along the stream itself.

Today’s highlight was the capture of the Mute Swan that has spent this spring hiding in the reed bed for some reason. Its downfall is that it likes to rest on one of the jetties of our bridge over the stream and where it is making a slippery mess that we could do without given the perilous nature of crossing the bridge. Another highlight for one of us Jon saw an Otter in the stream when he was putting the plank across. We know they have been back here for a few years. A fisherman told us while doing CES visit 2 that there was an active holt over near the canal. The last time one was seen by a group member was probably mid-last century. 

Ian got our ancient mower going so we cut the ride after the session. Ian and Jon made some temporary repairs to the “land-side” jetty; making it feel a little safer and Jon built a bridge over one of the ditches into the reed bed mid-way along the net ride.

Weather: mostly overcast with some sunny periods, calm and comfortable for a change.
Present: JL, JHW, DL, IW, RGS
Nets: Standard nets 198Metres along one ride (11x 18M nets) Additional nets two rides, 2x 18M and 12M all up from 06:00 to 10:15hrs
Lure (None):
Capture (New/Recapture) 33 (13/20): Blackbird 1/0, Blackcap 2/0, Blue Tit 0/2, Cetti’s Warbler 0/4, Chiffchaff 1/1, Dunnock 0/1, Mute Swan 1/0, Reed Warbler 4/9, Sedge Warbler 4/2, Wren 0/1
Recaptures: (20) Blue Tit 1y 230d, 352d Cetti’s Warbler 3y 249d, 1y 258d, 231d Chiffchaff 245d Dunnock 257d; others less than 100days
Age Range: All full grown, 2CY Blackcaps 2, Blue Tit 1

The bridge repair; keep between the lines
It also shows the scary plank bridging between the jetties

The victor with the prize where we you Gina!
 

Sightings 47 Species: The list includes Banded Demoiselle the first dragonfly species seen here this year. Otherwise the usual fare included a Cuckoo with a Cu, Cu, Cu call.

Banded Demoiselle 3+ Blackbird 3+ Blackcap 6+ Black-headed Gull 2 Blue Tit 4+ Canada Goose 2+ Carrion Crow 1+ Cetti's Warbler 4+ Chaffinch 4+ Chiffchaff 4+ Collared Dove 2+ Common Tern 2 Coot 2+ Cormorant 2 Cuckoo 2 Dunnock 2+ Egyptian Goose 2 Gadwall 4 Garden Warbler 1+ Goldcrest 1+ Great Spotted Woodpecker 1+ Great Tit 2+ Greenfinch 2+ Green Woodpecker 1+

Greylag Goose 2+ Jackdaw 2+ Lesser Black-backed Gull 15+ Lesser Whitethroat 1 Little Grebe 1+ Long-tailed Tit 3+ Magpie 3+ Mallard 5 Moorhen 2+ Mute Swan 1 Pochard 2 Reed Bunting 3+ Reed Warbler 20+ Robin 3+ Sedge Warbler 10+ Song Thrush 1+ Swallow 1 Swift 1 Tufted Duck 2+ Water Rail 3 Willow Warbler 3+ Woodpigeon 5+ Wren 4+