05/11 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure Week 44
Session: 05/11/2021, 07:40 to 10:45hrs
Notes:  Decided not to ring yesterday (4th), to windy, and wasn’t expecting much activity today but a few Goldcrests turned up on the heath about two weeks later that usual. Other northern European wintering  species are late this year. Wednesday night was the night that Fieldfares finally arrived on the east coast in numbers and presumably some other species such as Goldcrest arrive too. Two of the Fieldfare flocks of around 50 dropped into the enclosure but unfortunately none stayed in the nets. The second flock dropped in while I was in the enclosure, I suddenly found myself surrounded by Fieldfares, many just a few feet away, quite an experience. Two Chiffchaffs also ringed, are they late summer migrants or wintering birds I wonder?
Present: JL,IW,
Weather: Sunny bright clear, cold, calm.
Nets: 48metres in 3 rides of 18M, 18M, 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures Audio:  BC-CC-FC-GC, Yellow-browed Warbler, BR-LR-SK, FF-RE

Recaptures:(01)

Great Tit                   ringed: 16/09/2021

Sightings: Fieldfares seemed to be coming in from the east in several flocks of around 50. Two flocks descended into the enclosure; others ignored the audio as did the Redwing flocks. 11 Gadwall flew along the tree line towards Lower Farm GP. Relatively little Jackdaw action today, just some going out and back to the bunkers. Couldn’t locate the third Dartford Warbler but it  was probably nearby somewhere deep in the gorse. The Red Admiral was on the wing just before we left site. It was quite warm in the sun with little or no  wind to cool the rays.