26/08 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES 2023.12
Session: 26/08/2023 06:00 to 11:30hrs

1st Year Marsh Tit and unusual species for a reed bed site.

Notes:  The last Constant Effort Site (CES) visit of the year and a good variety of species including a Marsh Tit, a scarce species here in recent years, though it is the second bird for the CES this year. 2019 Blue Tit and Wren re-traps, we seem to be getting a few from that year in 2023. This is our 30th year not counting 2020 when covid stopped us ringing at this site. The ride being too overgrown by the time the restriction eased in June of that year. Except for this we have not missed any of the required 12 visits per year.
Present: JHW, IW, JL, IQ, KMB
Weather: overcast some sunny periods later, calm, cool.
Nets: 198M reed bed ride up from 06:30 to 10:30hrs
Lures: None.

Recaptures:(11)

Blue Tit                 ringed: 25/08/2019, 24/06/2023x2, 13/08/2023

Cetti’s Warbler     ringed: 13/08/2023

Chiffchaff              ringed: 13/08/2023

Dunnock              ringed: 24/06/2023

Reed Warbler      ringed: 13/08/2023

Robin                   ringed: 16/07/2023

Wren                    ringed: 04/08/2019, 06/08/2023

Sighting: The sighting of the session was the Great White Egret that flew over and was reported minutes later by NC at Lower Farm GP on BerksBirds. It must have done a circuit of the marsh as it was heading east when IW and IQ saw it. A single Swift flew over high south about 08:00hrs, most  will have left last week at the latest. We knocked several Hornets out of the nets and IW can report that a Tree Wasp sting is not as strong as a Common Wasp string, the pain doesn’t last long apparently. The cooler weather was not very conducive for butterfly or dragonfly activity.