04/06 Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 4

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 4
Session: 04-May-2016 05:30 to 10:30hrs
Headlines: A much better visit 4. Looks like there has been an arrival of Reed Warbler; numbers are nearer the norm for a pre-fledging visit. 44 is above the average of 38 for visit 4; range 2005-21, 1993-59. Because the previous visits have been poor the cumulative total is 85% of the 135 average. Gina chased along the net ride and re-captured the Mute Swan. Rupert noted the curvature of its neck saying it was a symptom of lead poisoning. Probably explains it hiding away alone in the reed bed and why it is so placid. A nearly 7 year old Reed Warbler is exceptional for recent years; ringed as a juvenile Aug 2009 it has been re-captured May 2010, May 2014 and now today, probably a passage bird, given the infrequent captures since ringing, that is passing through a bit late. It seems to have changed sex at least once! The nearly 6 years since ringing Sedge Warbler is more interesting as unlike Reed Warbler they are not so site loyal. It was ringed as an adult Aug 2010 also re-captured May 2014, today it was in breeding condition (a well developed brood patch) so is breeding close by. A few juveniles, the first of the year on the CES, added extra interest for the trainees and a Blue Tit in moult produced the first primary moult score of the year. More work to the bridge by Jon with Ian today, this time the jetty on the reed bed side was given a new wider top.
Weather: overcast, calm and warm.
Present: JL, IW, JHW, GB, SC, RDW, RGS
Nets: Standard nets 198Metres along one ride (11x 18M nets) up from 06:00 to 10:10hrs
No additional nets today
Lure (None):
Capture (New/Recapture)44 (23/21): Blackbird 1/1, Blue Tit 1/0, Chiffchaff 2/2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 0/1, Long-tailed Tit 1/0, Mute Swan 0/1, Reed Bunting 1/0, Reed Warbler 12/10 Robin 2/0, Sedge Warbler 2/5, Treecreeper 2/0.

Recaptures: (21) Chiffchaff 265d Reed Warbler 6y 279d, 3y 312d, 1y 333dx2, 1y 314d, 1y 306d, 314d Sedge Warbler 5y 308d; all others less than 100days

Age Range: All full grown except juveniles: Chiffchaff 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Robin 2, Treecreeper 2

New wider top surface and bark chippings to cover the swan pooh!
Probably need more next week.

Sightings 40 Species: An average morning observation-wise. A flock of 10 Long-tailed Tits is probably the largest flock of this species we have seen here this year; the flocks of up to 30 once regular are now a distant memory! A few Swift drifted over but otherwise little of note. Activity on the reed bed is still relatively low even the Water rail were quiet today.

Blackbird 1+ Blackcap 3+ Black-headed Gull 4 Blue Tit 4+ Bullfinch 2 Canada Goose 10+ Carrion Crow 2+ Cetti's Warbler 6+ Chaffinch 2+ Chiffchaff 5+ Collared Dove 1+ Common Tern 3+ Cuckoo 1 Dunnock 1+ Goldcrest 1+ Goldfinch 1+ Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Great Tit 2+ Greenfinch 3+ Herring Gull 1

Jackdaw 3+ Kestrel 1 Long-tailed Tit 12+ Magpie 2+ Mallard 4+ Moorhen 2+ Mute Swan 1 Pheasant 1+ Reed Bunting 4+ Reed Warbler 30 Robin 4 Sedge Warbler 12 Song Thrush 1+ Starling 2+ Swift 11 Tufted Duck 2+ Water Rail 1+ Willow Warbler 1+ Woodpigeon 5+ Wren 6