Accompanied by EP, ESA and RMA we travelled from Chobham Common to
the services on the M40 to see whether a Waxwing catch might be
possible. Since they were first spotted at our previous attempt for Pied
Wagtails on the 4th, the numbers have reached in excess of 40. Sadly,
there were only 7 birds at the usual spot. They were still loafing in
the tall trees and making forays down to the ornimental berry bushes on
the services access road.
Netting looked difficult as the bushes were densely planted and mistnets could only be erected behind the planted area. The chance of catching from 7 birds was much reduced than had there been a larger flock.
Netting looked difficult as the bushes were densely planted and mistnets could only be erected behind the planted area. The chance of catching from 7 birds was much reduced than had there been a larger flock.
We
were relying on the birds flushing away from the rosehips as large
vehicles travelled along the entrance road. We had seen them doing this
earlier in the week, but these birds had learnt to ignore the traffic
and we were unlucky. The net came down and we took a break until it was
time to set nets for the Pied Wagtail roost.
We
again tried nets either side of the roost trees. The birds again
dropped into the coach park for a toddle about before retiring to roost.
When they did move to the trees they flew high and dropped in, rather
than gaining height gradually from the tarmac ( and potentially being
intercepted by a mistnet.) There definitely appeared to be an element of
net evasion going on and the catch was poor as a result. Again, there
were no retraps.
Pied Wagtail - 5 female
Pied Wagtail, adult male
Totals:
Pied Wagtail - 6