Wednesday, 7 September 2016

07/09 Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure
Session: 07-Sep-2016 07:00 to 11:00hrs
Headlines: An overcast and dark threatening sky when I arrived. No captures on the first round followed by a capture of 17 when a 30+ mixed flock flew through the enclosure. It consisted mostly of tits and phylos with a few sylvia warblers. We missed many that skimmed over the top of the scrub and nets; must take the tops down lower this winter. After this we captured single figures to the end of the session; nearly all Chiffchaff. Where they came from we don’t know as a couple of walk rounds found very little in the surrounding scrub. For the last few sessions there have been one or two fly-over Grey Wagtails so today we tried to call them down. Normally they respond well to calls but today no response. Another good session and must keep at it as we should be due another scarce migrant soon.
Weather: Mostly overcast with a light breeze, warm
Present: JL, IW, RGS
Nets: 48metres in three rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 07:30 to 10:30hrs
Lure (audio): Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, Redstart, Grey Wagtail intermittently.
Capture (New/Recapture) 39(37/2): Blackcap 9/0, Blue Tit 1/0, Chiffchaff 18/0, Long-tailed Tit 2/2, Whitethroat 3/0, Willow Warbler 4/0
Recaptures: 2 Long-tailed Tits 2y 58d and 344d
Age Range: all 1st CY except indeterminate: Long-tailed Tit 3.

No photos of today's birds so for interest 20 years ago to the day we captured the rarest species I have ever ringed, a Paddyfield Warbler at Thatcham Marsh LNR.
Sightings 26 Species: Another quiet day observation-wise. For the first visit this summer no hirundine detected. The only over flyer was the Cormorant; no gulls again. Most notable species the Chaffinches, they are very scarce in the area this year. It is has been unusual to see or hear any on the common this summer. Hopefully numbers will increase when birds from further north move south for the winter. Chiffchaff migration must be at its peak now. For Blackcap, these are fewer in number this year so difficult to say but I think today’s to be the best total so far this season. Still a few Whitethroat and Willow Warbler moving through, each session now I think this one could be the last I see this year but still they keep trickling through; must end soon though.
Blackbird 2+
Blackcap 12+
Blue Tit 4+
Buzzard 2
Carrion Crow 3+
Chaffinch 6+
Chiffchaff 25+
Coal Tit 1+
Cormorant 1+
Dartford Warbler 2+
Goldfinch 5+
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1+
Great Tit 2+
 
Green Woodpecker 3+
Grey Wagtail 1
Jackdaw 9+
Jay 3+
Linnet 5+
Long-tailed Tit 15+
Magpie 3+
Nuthatch 1+
Robin 2+
Stock Dove 2+
Whitethroat 7+
Willow Warbler 8+
Woodpigeon 15+

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