Thursday, 14 July 2016

13/07 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure
Session: 13-Jul-2016 06:10 to 10:20hrs
Headlines: Over the last couple of days of walking the common it is apparent to me that migrants are beginning to move though. So, a visit to the Western Enclosure on the next suitable day weather-wise seemed a good idea. The windy weather to date has meant that ringing opportunities have been limited for some time. The forecast for Wednesday looked to have an acceptable level of wind. I was out by just before 06:00hrs and nets were up by 06:30; not as early as some but early enough for me. As in the last few days there was no activity in the enclosure so after about 15 minutes I decided to turn on the audio and didn't get any reaction at first. About an hour after nets up an adult Willow Warbler was captured. This was processed and the next round brought two more Willow Warblers and a Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Then nothing until 08:35 when three more Chiffchaff, three Blackcap and a Dunnock captured. Another blank round was followed by a round when a Goldcrest and a juvenile Great Tit were captured; this latter has been relatively scarce so far this year. At 09:30hrs another juvenile Great Tit was last bird of the day and nets were taken down at 10:00hrs.
Weather: Bright, sunny, calm-ish, slight breeze later.
Present: JL, RJC, IW
Nets: 66M in rides of 18M, 18M, 12M, 18M up from 06:30 to 10:00 hrs
Lure (Audio): Blackcap-Chiffchaff-Firecrest-Goldcrest intermittently.
Capture (New/Recapture) 16 (16/0): Blackcap 4/0, Chiffchaff 4/0, Dunnock 1/0, Goldcrest 1/0, Great Tit 2/0, Willow Warbler 4/0
Recaptures:  None
Age Range: All juveniles except adult: Blackcap 2, Willow Warbler 1

Sightings 31 Species: There was very little visible evidence of migration other than swallows drifting south. Quite a lot of raptor activity in the thermals of a rare relatively calm day included a high flying Kestrel that we tried in hope to turn in to something else. Woodlark, in particular, are now hard to locate as they have mostly stopped territorial activity, The Dartford Warblers and Stonechats made an appearance after a few days absence. Probably reflects that we spend the whole of the period in the same place as opposed to wandering when just birding. A short bust of song, early, from a Whitethroat the only evidence that they are still on site; the following day (14th) none found. Is it the same two Swift I keep seeing or two every day passing though? We think the Little Egret and definitely the Cormorant because I have seen it there are visiting the nearby Sandleford Lakes. Overall still quiet though, hope it picks up soon but I am not holding my breath. Still unable to find any Chaffinch!
Blackbird 3+
Blue Tit 2+
Buzzard 4
Chiffchaff 8+
Coal Tit 2+
Cormorant 1
Dartford Warbler 1+
Dunnock 3+
Feral Pigeon 6
Goldcrest 2+
Goldfinch 3+
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1+
Great Tit 2+
Green Woodpecker 3+
Greenfinch 2+
House Martin 4+
 
Jackdaw 11+
Kestrel 2
Linnet 8+
Little Egret 1
Magpie 4+
Nuthatch 1+
Red Kite 2
Robin 1+
Stonechat 2+
Swallow 13+
Swift 2+
Whitethroat 1+
Willow Warbler 6+
Woodlark 1+
Woodpigeon 10+

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