01/10 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR
Session: 01/10/2023  07:00 to 11:30hrs
Notes:  With only two ringers present and as we were using audio lures, the number of nets erected was limited to four 18 metre nets. The session was dominated by one big net round when 24 birds were processed. This included a flock of Long-tailed Tits, many more of which we would probably have ringed had we had all the nets up as they flew across in front of us as we approached the mid-ride nets. At nets down two Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler were captured. A quick check showed that the latest Reed Warbler on the system back to 1969 is one ringed on the 23/10/1994 and the latest Sedge Warbler for the same period is 10/10/2010 both at Thatcham Marsh LNR. Most of both species have usually left the reed bed for Africa by mid-September. A Goldfinch is unusual for the reed bed.
Present: IW,IQ,JL,NC.
Weather: overcast, light breeze, cool
Nets: 72M along one reed bed ride up from 07:30 to 11:00hrs
Lures: (BC-CC-WW-GW-WH-LW-GC-FC), (W-WC-SF-RZ-TP-WY), (GH-RW-SW-RB-AW), (RT-YB) intermittently

Recaptures:(05)

Cetti’s Warbler   ringed: 23/07/2023

Long-tailed Tit    ringed: 24/04/2022

Reed Warbler    ringed: 06/08/2023

Wren                  ringed: 03/07/2023, 16/07/2023

Sighting: A small flock of House Martin over mid-session. The Grey Heron was creeping around under the railway bridge until we flushed it. The Raven croaked unseen over towards the canal and at least two Water Rail could be heard squealing in the reeds.