Staines Moor - 1st December 2020

A day calm enough to try for Water Pipits at Staines Moor. We arrived before too many people were walking dogs, or just plain walking. Something that we see increasingly since the start of the pandemic. Many carry Costa coffee cups, some don't bother to take them home and most would be much more at home in the High Street.

Many regular walk ways show the result of increased footfall on the moor.

We intended to put nets on a part of the moor close to the river and near a tree favoured by a ringed bird that has been present for a few years now, that remains unidentified as it has not been retrapped. The  audio-lure encouraged a few birds to fly over but none could be caught. We didn't see the ringed WATPI and presumed that it has not returned this year. 

We relocated to the other side of the river where water had been pooling a few days ago. There were at least five Water Pipits in this locale but of course most took themselves off elsewhere as soon as we disturbed the area. We also attracted the unwanted attention of the horses.

The audio-lure and unusual human activity can be most interesting for some of the horses. We try to avoid getting their attention but when we are noticed the herd investigates together, 

one reason why full height triangle formations are not possible here.

A ringed bird was seen to forage within a few feet of the net.

The horses would not move off, requiring management as they

continuously approached the nets.

The ringed bird probably won't be one of ours. We've had darvics since
2017 and the rings we fit are very much darker. This looked too
shiny by far, and maybe a European country ring maybe.

 

We ringed a single Meadow Pipit from the nets and also the last youngster of the cygnet family. We'll have to try again and hope to catch the ringed one and perhaps more of the WATPI present.

Total: 2

Mute Swan - 1
Meadow Pipit -1