02/10 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR

Session: 02-Oct-2016 07:00 to 11:20hrs

Headlines: Another good session in good weather conditions. The Sedge Warblers are quite late for this site, all were carrying quite a lot of fat (fat score 6 in some ) One of the Reed Warblers was also carrying F6 fat; the other had none visible. Some of the Chiffchaffs also were carrying quite lot of fat. Greenfinch is a rare capture here in recent years.  Probably fewer Reed Buntings so far on the reed bed compared to last year. Tits are still scarce, the Blue Tit that was 6years 62days old is a good capture. There seems to have been a good influx of Robin. An enjoyable morning and a good variety of species.

Weather: Bright sunny cool mostly calm breezy later

Present: JL, IW, JHW, RGS, RDW

Nets: 216metres in one ride of 108M+90M and 18M in the scrub up from 08:00 until 10:30hrs

Lure (audio): Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting

Capture (New/Recapture) 55 (43/12): Blackcap 5/0, Blue Tit 1/1, Bullfinch 1/0, Cetti’s Warbler 2/6, Chiffchaff 10/1, Dunnock 2/0, Goldcrest 4/0, Great Tit 1/0, Greenfinch 1/0, Long-tailed Tit 1/0, Reed Bunting 2/0, Reed Warbler 2/0, Robin 3/2,
Sedge Warbler 4/0, Wren 4/2

Recaptures:  12 all less than 50d except Blue Tit 6y 62d recapture once before 12/10/14 Cetti’s Warbler 2y 47d, 98d, 70d

Age Range: All 1st CY except adult Blue Tit 1, Greenfinch 1, Robin 1

Sightings 40 Species: Definitely a feel of autumn today but no winter species yet except possibly Goldcrest. Still a few Swallows going through early morning and Buzzards quite active late on.

Blackbird 3 Blackcap 5+ Black-headed Gull 26+ Blue Tit 5+ Bullfinch 5+ Buzzard 5+ Canada Goose 15 Carrion Crow 4+ Cetti's Warbler 12 Chaffinch 4+ Chiffchaff 15+ Coot 2 Cormorant 4 Dunnock 5+ Goldcrest 8+ Goldfinch 2+ Great Spotted Woodpecker 2+ Great Tit 3+ Green Woodpecker 1+ Greenfinch 1

Grey Heron 1 Grey Wagtail 1+ Jackdaw 5+ Jay 1+ Little Grebe 1 Long-tailed Tit 3+ Magpie 2+ Mallard 8 Moorhen 3 Mute Swan 1 Reed Bunting 5+ Reed Warbler 1 Robin 10+ Rook 8+ Sedge Warbler 4+ Swallow 3+ Tufted Duck 3 Water Rail 2 Woodpigeon 15+ Wren 10+