We planned to join MRB and Margaret for a Meadow Pipit session with the added chance of Hirundines. We were hopeful that both targets might oblige as we had low cloud and fine drizzle as we set the first nets, but the tapes failed to attract House Martins or Swallows although some of both species were seen briefly. There were some Meadow Pipits around, however numbers present were well down on our previous session and the numbers caught didn't amount to a great deal considering the effort put in to flush birds into the nets.
We were correct in our assumption that the summer warblers were now well on their way with only a few late stragglers being captured. We were a little surprised at the end of the morning when Chris played Redwing and Redpoll in spite of not hearing or seeing any of either species, and captured the first Lesser Redpoll of the season for the group. A little later a party of some 40 Lesser Redpoll flew through and although they stopped briefly and perched in trees close to the lure, a jet departed from Heathrow at an inopportune moment, drowning out the calls and the birds were immediately back in the air and on their way.
Totals: 51 (1)
Meadow Pipit - 10
Robin - 3
Dunnock - 6
Blackcap - 11
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 9
Blue Tit - 6
Great Tit - 1 (1)
Lesser Redpoll - 1