Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Chobham Common

Sunday 27 August 2017

Chobham Common - 25th August 2017

There were plenty of reports of Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher on passage yesterday, so as conditions were favourable we tried our luck at Chobham Common.

We didn't get many birds but were very pleased to catch a first year male Redstart. The retained greater coverts were easily visible.

3M Redstart

Other captures included three Coal Tits, all juvenile.

Juvenile Coal Tit

Also one of several Dartford Warbler that we saw in our immediate area.

Dartford Warbler juvenile

The heather was stunning once the early morning mist had cleared.

There were quite a few butterflies on the site, with Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White, Red Admiral, Grayling and Comma all seen.

Freshly emerged Comma

Totals: 9

Wren - 1

Redstart - 1

Dartford Warbler - 1

Willow Warbler - 1

Goldcrest - 1

Long-tailed Tit - 1

Coal Tit - 3

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.