25/07 Thatcham Marsh LNR

Location: Thatcham Marsh LNR CES Visit 2026.09

Session: 25/07/2026 06:00 to 11:00hrs

Present: IW, JL, RAD, CMD, IQ.

Weather: sunny clear, calm, hot.

Nets: 192M net along the reed bed ride (net lengths 1A & 2A) + a 12M ride in scrub (site B) up from 06:30 to 10:30hrs.

Lures: (none)

Whitethroat Juvenile, probably on passage - once often encountered, now a bit scarce on and around the reed bed.

Notes: A disappointing capture for the time of year. The primary reed bed species Reed Warbler numbers are down. A check on the Reed Warbler total for CES Visit 09 shows the following (Starting 2005 the easiest years in the data to access back to).

 It shows that over the last 20+ years there is a steady drop in numbers. There are other single figure counts that appear to be one offs – hopefully 2026 is one of these. Also it seems there are fewer birds of any species venturing out on to the reed bed this year. It is noticable that fewer aphids are visable; these previous years encrusted the phagmitres tops; though I can’t remember the last time I saw this. Also I can’t remember the last time I was pestered by midges and the like, no longer is there the need to apply repelants, once an essential this time of year.

FG = age indeterminate

CES visit 2026.09 Recaptures: (05)

Blue Tit ringed: 24/06/2025.

Dunnock ringed: 06/04/2025, 21/06/2026.

Reed Warbler ringed: 18/05/2025

Sedge Warbler ringed: 12/07/2026.

Sightings: A quite large flock of Canada Geese flew west early. Still one or two Swifts about. Water

Rail chicks calling from the reed bed. Little Grebe appear to be nesting again. A Cattle Egret flew over

east and the Kestrel from the south is still visiting the tip mound but less frequently. The only phylos

warbler was a Chiffchaff that called briefly. Fewer Butterflies around this session.