10/09 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR
Session: 10/09/2023  07:00 to 11:00hrs

The breeding season this year has been tough for many species, particularly the dry June followed by an unusally wet July. This Reed Warbler's tail shows large fault bars indicating arrested tail feather growth due probably to the parents struggling to find sufficient food while it was a nestling. 

Notes:  The first full session using audio lures since CES12, also last week's ride clearance, and lots more birds than usual attracted out of the scrub by our audio lures. Scarce species, at this site, ringed today included: a Chaffinch - few sightings recently here let alone ringed, a Goldcrest – in juveniles plumage with no sign of any adult plumage; must have been from a late brood, and two late-ish Willow Warblers. A busy session.
Present: IW, JHW, RAD, JL, DL, NC, MJD.
Weather: overcast with sunny periods, some spots of rain, warm, calm
Nets: 198M along one reed bed ride up from 07:30 to 10:30hrs

Lures: (BC-CC-WW-GW-WH-LW-GC-FC), (W-WC-SF-RZ-TP-WY), (GH-RW-SW-RB-AW), (RT-YB) intermittently.

Recaptures:(11)

Blue Tit                  ringed: 26/07/2023 - Greenham Common Western Enclosure

Cetti’s Warbler      ringed: 17/04/2022, 30/07/2023, 26/08/2023

Chiffchaff               ringed: 11/04/2021, 30/07/2023

Reed Bunting        ringed: 09/10/2022

Reed Warbler       ringed: 03/09/2023

Robin                    ringed: 10/07/2022, 03/09/2023

Wren                     ringed: 16/10/2022

Sighting: A busy ringing morning so probably missed a few species, also one or two interesting looking high flying species went over too fast to be sure of ID. Fewer Tree Wasps feeding on the sap weeping from tree trunks this visit, and as a consequence even fewer Hornets in attendance. The brown hairstreak was a good spot.