Location: Snelsmore Common Feeder CES 2023/24.08
Session: 11/02/2024 07:30 to 11:50hrs
Notes: We held off starting the session as was lightly raining, would have postponed until next weekend but needed to do the last CES session for reason that will become apparent. Fortunately it stopped soon after 08:00hrs. The last CES visit brought as expected more Blue Tits including an
approximately 7 year old ringed 24/12/2017, re-trapped here 07/01/2018,
16/01/2022, 11/02/2024 and today, haven’t checked recently but probably one of
the oldest if not the oldest Blue Tit for the group. Also, two of the three pulli
re-trapped today were from earlier breeding years – 2021 and 2022 and the other
pulli was from a box west of the feeder on the western margin of the common.
Sadly, on the 01/02/2024 I took a call from BBOWT
instructing me to remove the Snelsmore Common feeder immediately as it was
attracting rats to the café. I manage to persuade to at least let us complete
the nationally coordinated Winter Constant Effort Site visits and we removed
the feeders and equipment today after this final CES session.
It understand that the
café had notified of rats being seen, pest control was called in and have
confirmed the presents of rats and identified seed from the feeders as the attraction.
Strange as I don’t feed seed as such, but no waste fat balls, sunflower hearts
and peanuts, also I don’t have a rat problem at my other two feeders though
rats are present as they are everywhere in the countryside. There have always been
rats in the vicinity and they have not been a problem in the past. Recently
however I have removed food remains that have been thrown over near the feeders
presumably from the café and customers. Given the longevity of us feeding birds
there I would have expected to have been consulted re the perceived problem
instead of being given an ultimatum. Had I been given the chance I would have
trapped the offending rat(s) and removed humanely. Instead, I am told that from
tomorrow pest control are going to set I presume poison trap around the café.
These will probably remove the perceived rat problem for a while and also the
wood and yellow-necked mice, voles and maybe shrews that also inhabit the tree
stumps etc and undergrowth there, and then other wildlife such as badgers,
foxes, crows may consume the bodies of the poisoned animals. And what will
happen to the birds who have come to depend on the feeders that have been stocked
every winter for the last 17years. I start up this feeder earlier than
elsewhere from July following the breeding season at the request of the café and
customers who like to sit and watch the birds. Some have expressed astonishment
that the feeding has been stopped. I am told people come from as far away as Basingstoke
and elsewhere to see the birds.
Not a good look for anyone really.
Present: JL,IW.JHW,DL,IQ.LC.
Weather: light rain early, overcast, calm, cool.
Nets: 12M of nets, 6M each side of the feeders from 08:10 to 11:00hrs.
Recaptures:(37) note nest box prefixes CP
and WH Snelsmore Common, others Bagnor Est Mount Hill.
Blue Tit ringed: 24/12/2017, 24/10/2021, 02/01/2022,
13/03/2022, 15/01/2023, 05/02/2023x3,19/02/2023,
05/03/2023, 05/11/2023x4, 19/11/2023x2, 10/12/2023x5, 15/12/2023 BAGfdr, 17/12/2023, 21/04/2024, 04/02/2024x5
pulli ringed: 25/05/2021 box CP25,
16/05/2022 box CP21, 20/05/2023 box WH13
Great Tit ringed: 05/11/2023x2,
07/01/2024x2
Sighting: Just
as we were about to leave from a net round a male Sparrowhawk did a hunting run
at the feeders, bounced off the net and away. Ravens are less active, probably brooding
eggs, just
a few give away croaks today. 
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