Stanwell GP - 20th May 2019

This morning we put some time in at Stanwell, hoping to capture some returning Reed Warblers. We had three nets (3 panels) over water and another two on the track ride. Work to reduce the soil mound continues, but so far the immediate area where we put the track net is still there, although the removal of a chunk of the bank will no doubt affect the way birds move around the site.

We were quite pleased with the four ringed Reed Warblers that we caught. As in previous years, it seems that returning birds are rarely in their second year although we do get new birds that are probably age 5 bearing in mind leg and eye colour.

All of the returners were ringed in 2016 or 2017

S443012     ringed 03/07/2017 (then aged 4)
S443023  M ringed 03/07/2017 (then aged 4) and encountered 02/07/2018
Z762133 M ringed 23/07/2016 (then aged 4) and encountered 09/047/2018
Z763195  F ringed 14/08/2016 (then aged 4)

Reed Warbler

There were a few new Reed Warblers, also a Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

While clearing the track net, I realised that the Little Ringed Plovers were spending a lot of time in an area where some of the earth mound was dug out at the end of last year. We watched the pair for a while, then moved in very carefully and located and ringed two young.

On release this chick made no attempt to hide, but is still quite difficult to see

Although part of the bank has been removed, most of this stony area

has remained undisturbed enough for the LRPs to breed.

The supervisor of the site has always been very helpful regarding access for us while work is ongoing and he has confirmed that the area where the Little Ringed Plover are breeding will remain undisturbed until the young have fledged. Some businesses are mindful, but back to that debate is it impractical to stop anywork at all in the breeding season?

Total: 11 (4)

Little Ringed Plover - 2 pulli
Blackbird - 1
Song Thrush - 1
Reed Warbler - 4 (4)
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 1
Goldfinch - 1