13/11 Greenham Common Estovers(616) Feeder

Location: Greenham Common Estovers(616) Feeder

Session: 13-Nov-2016 07:30 to 11:20hrs

Headlines: I had high hopes that we would do better at the feeder today, unfortunately we did about the same. The extra birds came from nets in the scrub lured by Goldcrest calls. A six year old Coal Tit is a notable; we have captured it every year since it was ringed Sep 2010; the national record is 9+ years. It is a new record for the group prior to this it was 4.3 years. Think we need to adjust the nets to the new situation so they hopefully work more efficiently. This visit is additional to the structured visits so no 2015/16 winter equivalent to compare with.

Weather: Bright, sunny, clear, cold calm gusting late in session.

Present: JL, JHW, DL, IW, RGS

Nets: 82metres in five rides: 12M, 12M (one each side of feeders) 12M, 12M, 12M in scrub bordering road. up from 08:00 to 11:00hrs

Lure   (feeders): Niger, Black Sunflower, Peanuts, Black Sunflower
             (audio): Goldcrest, Redpoll
Capture (New/Recapture) 24(18/6):

Species New Retrap 1st CY Adult BLUTI 3 2 4 1 COATI   2   2 GOLDC 5 1 5 1 GREFI 5   5   GRETI 1 1 1 1 ROBIN 2   2   SONTH 1     1 WREN 1   1

Recaptures: (6) recent except: Blue Tit 99d ringed Thatcham Marsh LNR, Coal Tit 6y 55d, 2y 4d Great Tit 1y 12d

Adult Coal Tit probably a male by the wide bib and dark glossy head.

 

Sightings 25 Species: Quiet sightings-wise, not much flying about. A gull flying north was unmistakable, with very long wings and black mantle, as a Great Black-backed Gull.