21/06 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Session: 21-Jun-2016 05:45 to 10:20hrs

Headlines: Tried to do an early start but time drifted and didn’t arrive until about 05:45hrs. While erecting the second net a flock of about 20 Long-tailed Tits entered the enclosure and ten were captured with a Chiffchaff, Coal Tit and a Robin. The capture of three adult Blue Tits reinforces the impression that Blue Tit are struggling. Normally at this time of year juveniles would be the order of the day. A family party of six Stonechats circled around the compound for much of the early morning and eventual two juveniles were captured; probably a male and a female from the plumage but to early to be certain. As last year around this time we captured juvenile Linnets; I think recently fledged birds may be a little less cautious than when more experienced. Should have check Svensson as to late for the first one I remembered that you can sex them by the extent of white on primary feathers, similar to Greenfinch. All morning the pair of Woodlark had been on and around the north-east corner of the enclosure. Previously I had decided by observation that the nest was just outside the enclosure but today they had young and were taking food into the enclosure to the un-found nest. We both searched the low gorse and heather near where they were going down but could not find the nest. Will have another look over the next few days and will probably hold off ringing here until they have fledged young; hopefully ringed as pulli.

Weather: A few sunny periods early, cloudy later, a few spots of rain, calm-ish early, gusty later.

Present: JL, IW

Nets: 48Metres in three rides of 18M, 18M and 12M up from 06:00 to 10:00hrs.

Lure (none):

Capture (New/Recapture) 30 (24/6): Blackbird 2/0, Blue Tit 0/3, Chiffchaff 4/1, Coal Tit 1/0, Greenfinch 1/0, Linnet 2/0 Long-tailed Tit 9/1, Robin 1/0, Song Thrush 1/0, Stonechat 2/0, Whitethroat 1/1

Recaptures:  7 Blue Tit 307d, 242d, 231d Chiffchaff 326d Long-tailed Tit 307d Whitethroat 319d

Age Range: All juveniles except, full grown: Blue Tit 3, Chiffchaff 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Song Thrush 1, Whitethroat 1

The two Stonechats: top is probably a juvenile male and below a female.

Bottom one of the juvenile Linnets

Sightings 36 Species: We heard the illusive Tree Pipit on Sandleford Heath including Adrian Hickman. Adrian also reported the singing Firecrest in the woods; Ian also found it and thought there might have been two. I thought I heard two different birds singing there a couple of weeks ago. The Long-tailed Tit flock is the first substantial count I have had post fledging. A few family parties of Linnet flying around and Buzzard showed up for change. Three juvenile Dartford Warblers flew around and into the enclosure, flying each side and between the nets unfortunately.

Blackbird 9+ Blackcap 1+ Blue Tit 5+ Buzzard 3 Carrion Crow 3+ Chaffinch 7+ Chiffchaff 8+ Coal Tit 2 Dartford Warbler 3 Dunnock 3+ Feral Pigeon 1 Firecrest 1+ Goldfinch 5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker 1+ Great Tit 3+ Green Woodpecker 2+ Greenfinch 4+ House Martin 2+

Jackdaw 15+ Kestrel 1 Linnet 10+ Little Egret 1 Long-tailed Tit 20+ Magpie 2 Mistle Thrush 1+ Nuthatch 1+ Robin 3+ Song Thrush 3+ Stock Dove 3+ Stonechat 6 Tree Pipit 1 Whitethroat 2+ Willow Warbler 4+ Woodlark 2 Woodpigeon 5+ Wren 2