08/10 Greenham Common

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR
Session: 08/10/2023  07:30 to 11:30hrs
Notes:  Looks like all the Reed and Sedge Warblers have gone, no sign of either this session. A 2017, seven year old female Cetti’s Warbler, a quick but not definitive check showed it to the oldest ever for the Newbury Ringing Group; the oldest recorded by the BTO is 9 years 3 months 28days. But mostly we ringed Blue Tits, particularly the last two net rounds.
Present: IW,JHW,DL,JL,NC.
Weather: overcast, light breeze, cool
Nets: 198M along one reed bed ride up from 08:00 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:(09)

Blue Tit                ringed: 30/07/2023, 28/05/2023, 26/08/2023

Cetti’s Warbler     ringed: 24/08/2017, 20/07/2023

Dunnock              ringed: 25/09/2022

Robin                   ringed: 24/06/2023

Wren                    ringed: 09/10/2022, 09/04/2023

Sighting: Water Rail were quite noisy in the first half of the session. A steady passage of Skylark high over south. Some high flying thrushes, all looked to be Song Thrush. A small flock of House Martin over and a single high over Grey Wagtail. Wasp and Hornet numbers much lower than recent visits and several Red Admiral some high above the treetops and generally heading south-ish.