Wednesday 15 August 2012

Stanwell Moor - 14 August 2012

Chris and I were joined by CDW to have another try at the roost and put nets up over the already diminishing flashes. Conditions were good but we weren't seeing birds in large numbers around the lake. As always, in order to put up nets in the water meadow all the ducks and waders including 6 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper were flushed off in the process.

Things went quite slowly. The tapes didn't draw much in and birds dribbled through while nothing connected with the flash nets and few hirundines were seen overhead. A Hobby drifted above the lake, alighting on one of the taller trees lining the silt beds as Chris returned from the meadow with a single Linnet. It seemed that it was just one of those quiet nights, especially when only 3 birds were caught at the roost.

With all other nets down we made our way to the water meadow but nothing had been caught and birds could be heard departing as how ever hard we tried to be quiet, rather noisily sploshed through the standing water. We decided to give it until it got properly dark and secreted outselves briefly in the tall grass, before relocating to the soil slopes. We didn't see much but did hear some duck and Lapwing. On checking the net we had made one capture.





Totals: 13 (4)

Lapwing 1
Sand Martin 1
Swallow 2
Dunnock 0 (1)
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler  1 (1)
Blackcap 1 (1)
Willow Warbler 1
Chiff-chaff 1
Long-tailed Tit 3 (1)
Linnet 1