Following the continuous frustrations with disruption at the roost due to attention from aerial predators, and the success of the previous day, we and Tim Alexander decided to try for Meadow Pipits as well as the Hirundine roost. As usual, the conditions at the top of the soil heap was rather breezier than the surrounding area, but nevertheless we set up our triangle, did the minimum of weeding possible, got the mp3 going and made a swift retreat to erect the usual nets. It was a slow start but the first bird was a retrap, Cetti’s Warbler L851703, captured on 30th August weighing 14.1g and now showing a weight increase of 2.2g, more that a 15% up to 16.3g. The hobbies patrolled overhead and apart from just one party of Swallows, that inspected the nets and rapidly left, there was not the most remote interest shown in forming a roost. Starling numbers were also well down on those seen on previous evenings. For all the effort of walking up and down the hill we managed just 4 Mipits.
Totals:
Meadow Pipit - 4
Cetti’s Warbler - 0 (1)
Reed Warbler - 1
Chiff-chaff - 5
Reed Bunting -1