22/08 Greenham Common

Location: Greenham Common Western Enclosure (wk34)
Session: 22/08/2023 07:45 to 11:00hrs

Sedge Warbler  1st year                                          Lesser Whitethroat 1st year

Notes: Several species of warbler on the move and some relatively good (for here) numbers of each. The out of habitat Sedge Warbler was full of fat (score 6 of 8); maybe we should have tried audio luring them here before. (The GH-RW-SW-RB-AW audio was assembled for the aborted visit to Thatcham Reed Beds last Sunday 20th). Not many non-migrants about. One or two other species had fat scores of 1 and 2 but most had 0 scores, perhaps having burnt their fat off flying in from further north. 38 is the best total for any one session at the site this season so far.

Present: JL,IW,KMB
Weather: sunny periods, calm to light breeze, warm
Nets: 48metres 3 Rides, 18M, 18M and 12M up from 08:00 to 10:30hrs
Lures: (BC-CC-WW-GW-WH-LW-GC-FC), (W-WC-SF-RZ-TP), (GH-RW-SW-RB-AW), (RT-DW) intermittently

Sightings: The Wheatear were alongside the track just west of the control tower by the pools as I drove down to the site; not strictly in the count area. Otherwise, quiet even Jackdaw and Starling numbers were few. Surprisingly, as it was quite hot, we saw few insect on the wing. As well as the Common Darter, one or two small butterflies flew about too fast to ID. They were possibly Small Heath.