Tuesday 23 August 2016

Wraysbury GP - 23 August 2016

We continue migration monitoring at Wraysbury - not long to go now as we'll be heading off to Sweden next week where we'll be ringing at Getterons throughout September. It's over a week since we have been able to ring at Wraysbury so we expected to see a few changes.

We had six nets up today, for just two of us as a couple of others that may have joined us couldn't make it. We had just completed set up when I (Denise) turned a corner on the way to the first net for checking, to find some 15 ponies between me and the net. With a little skillful encouragement they disappeared off, away from the ringing rides - we really will be pleased when they're finally removed.

Catching was steady until 10am. There were still a few Willow Warbler about, Whitethroats are now roughly equal to Blackcap captures and Garden Warbler numbers have dropped right down but some of those that we're catching are carrying high levels of fat. There were a few scored at 3 or 4 fat with the heaviest bird (F7 M2) weighing in at 26.9g.

 Garden Warbler weighing 26.9g - IPMR said no!

D859845, a Robin, ringed on 15th December 2015,  was captured in moult although both wings were not symmetrical.

 Adult Robin D859845

 Asymmetrical wing moult - right and left wings


Totals: 73 (12)

Dunnock - 5
Robin - 1 (1)
Reed Warbler - 2
Whitethroat - 17 (5)
Garden Warbler - 6 (1)
Blackcap - 18 (3)
Chiffchaff - 16 (2)
Willow Warbler - 3
Goldcrest - 3
Blue Tit - 1
Goldfinch - 1