23/06 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure
Date: 23-Jun-2016

Headlines: The misty drizzle that we woke up to this morning put me off going out. Having been stuck in yesterday it was not long before I decided to go out even if it was a bit damp. A text from Adrian that the Firecrest was singing earlier suggested a walk up the road to try and see it (them). I took my pulli bag thinking I might have a check for the Woodlark nest that was somewhere near the enclosure. The Firecrest was not performing when I was there so I walked through on to the common. Watched the Woodlark flying in and out, saw where they were landing and taking off. Did a search but no luck. Moved to a different position thought I had a better handle on where they were going to, did another search but no sign. Went for a walk to give the pair a break., returned settled down to watch in another position. Saw birds going in and out but still couldn't find the nest. Moved to another position and did the same still, no luck  While watching I was distracted by two Dartford Warblers that flew into the enclosure carrying food, they flew out  towards some isolated gorse, so I did a bit of a half-hearted cold search for where I thought the nest might be, no luck though.

Back at the enclosure decided to have one last cold search. As I approached the area a woodlark flew off from the nearby grass. Repeated my search around the more substantial clumps of gorse; still no luck. There was an isolated small clump of gorse that I had looked at several times including with Ian on Tuesday. As I was about to step over it I pushed back an overhanging sprig with my search stick and released it, then thought wait a minute there was something different about the dead gorse bits and had another look. I looked a chick gaped for food; the nest had four chicks, feathers breaking out of pin (FS code) just right for ringing. As with previous Woodlark nest,  I have found, it was much more exposed than expected. So able to use my Sch1 in full rather than the usual estimate, four chicks ringed and a nest to monitor for the NRS. They should fledge by early next week at the latest and I know when it will be safe to do my next ringing session in the enclosure.

Four Woodlark Chicks
surprisingly difficult to see until you realise what you are looking at and very compact probably fit into a 50mm diameter circle.!