Well, finally the water level has dropped enough for wellingtons to be sufficient when netting in the actual ride. Since we've been able to get in, about 3 weeks ago, we've cleared the ride and rejigged the fixed posts into the lake ( where waders are most definitely essential) due to reeds spreading into what had been a clear area - and today we were actually putting up nets. With any luck there might be a few birds too. We never had to wait until after the Summer solstice in the past -but then the water off the upper field, now covered with soil from the Terminal 2 redevelopment has never been channelled into the lake before.
We had 5 nets up as the evening light began to fade. One 18m at what is usually the dry end of the ride. The willow carr now has a lot more reeds and Reed Warblers were singing in that area - something that doesn't usually happen. We put up a 9m in the area cleared for Starlings - although we had noticed that birds appeared to have been roosting more widely than that. We put a 3 panel 12m in the lake with another 12m off it to the end of the ride where an 18m net covered the area favoured by hirundines.
We knew that we might struggle as planes were taking off towards the lake, creating a lot of noise disturbance every 90 seconds.
We started off with a juvenile Kingfisher then caught a retrap Reed Warbler. Starlings were already coming to roost in sizable groups - we estimated numbers to easily exceed 1000, but they usually flew at reed top height, unless coming in off the lake and none were caught. There were a couple more Reed Warblers, a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff.
It was a modest catch but worthwhile all the same as we got a control Reed Warbler D624148 and finished off with a single adult Swallow.
Totals -8 (2)
Kingfisher - 1
Swallow - 1
Reed Warbler - 3 (2)
Garden Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 1
We had 5 nets up as the evening light began to fade. One 18m at what is usually the dry end of the ride. The willow carr now has a lot more reeds and Reed Warblers were singing in that area - something that doesn't usually happen. We put up a 9m in the area cleared for Starlings - although we had noticed that birds appeared to have been roosting more widely than that. We put a 3 panel 12m in the lake with another 12m off it to the end of the ride where an 18m net covered the area favoured by hirundines.
We knew that we might struggle as planes were taking off towards the lake, creating a lot of noise disturbance every 90 seconds.
Kingfisher aged 3
We started off with a juvenile Kingfisher then caught a retrap Reed Warbler. Starlings were already coming to roost in sizable groups - we estimated numbers to easily exceed 1000, but they usually flew at reed top height, unless coming in off the lake and none were caught. There were a couple more Reed Warblers, a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff.
Adult Garden Warbler
It was a modest catch but worthwhile all the same as we got a control Reed Warbler D624148 and finished off with a single adult Swallow.
Totals -8 (2)
Kingfisher - 1
Swallow - 1
Reed Warbler - 3 (2)
Garden Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 1