Stanwell Moor GP - 17th July 2020

Arrived for a six'o'clock start and having found that the fields, and even the bank where we have some rides had been mowed put seven nets up. An eighth went up shortly after, although the Swallows and House Martins that had tempted us managed to evade the net.

It was a productive session,76 new birds of 18 species. A good range of warblers that included the first, if somewhat dishevelled, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler (no nets in the reed-bed all were ranging between the lake and the river), and Cetti's Warbler as well as Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.

Juvenile Starling

Juvenile Magpie

Total: 77 (4)

Magpie - 2
Starling - 3
Blackbird - 2
Wren - 1
Dunnock - 7 (1)
Robin -4 (1)
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 5

Whitethroat - 11 (1)

Blackcap - 17  (1)

Garden Warbler - 3

Chiffchaff - 8

Willow Warbler - 1

House Sparrow - 1

Blue Tit - 1

Great Tit - 4

Greenfinch - 3

Goldfinch - 3

Wraysbury GP - 15th July 2020

The second day in a row with company on a ringing session, this time a young lady with her mum who, due to social distancing measures was only able to observe. We reduced from eight to six nets and still processed over 100 birds. Both mum and daughter enjoyed the morning, but have concerns about the commitment needed to train to ring during 'A' levels, having a horse to care for and exercise, with the prospect of an up and coming gap year potentially followed by university. Whatever the decision, it will be made in full understanding of how much time is required in order to meet the necessary standard to achieve a 'C' permit.

There was nothing too out of the ordinary, a single Reed Warbler was nice, Garden Warblers put in a decent showing with 22 and we expect their numbers to peak soon then begin to drop as they are the first of the Sylvia warblers to be on their way. Blackcap was the leading species with 39 new birds and six retrapped, showing that some are spending a while on site, as the blackberries are now coming into season. Whitethroats were less apparent and only 13 new and 9 recaptured birds were processed. Chiffchaff numbers remain low and there were no Willow Warblers either captured, seen or heard.

Juvenile Whitethroat (stock image)

Total: 92 (20)

Dunnock - 2 (2)

Robin - 2 (2)

Blackbird - 2

Song Thrush - 5

Reed Warbler - 1

Whitethroat - 13 (9)

Garden Warbler - 22

Blackcap - 39 (6) 

Chiffchaff - 2

Blue Tit - 2

Chaffinch - 2

Bullfinch - 0 (1)

Broadwater GP - 14th July 2020

This was to be our first ringing session with others outside of our household (it's usually just Chris & me) so social distancing was the order of the day. As we were out with MRB and Margaret we effectively ran two sessions - separate tables, record sheets, rings, equipment and nets!

Despite the relatively late start we still had 37 birds from 3 nets and in addition to that, M&M managed another net, but the tables were so separate I only know they did 22 birds because they're already entered into DeMon!

Male Blackcap (stock image)

Our totals were as follows:

Totals: 36 (1)

Blackbird - 3
Wren - 2
Robin - 4
Blackcap - 12
Chiffchaff - 12
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Great Tit - 2 (1)

Stanwell Moor GP - 12th July 2020

We arrived on site at around 5.45am and drove to the lake area all ready to set up in the lovely weedy stretch that we can only use on a Sunday when the plant isn't working, and found that work has now started on levelling and clearing that part of the site. The first place where we usually put a couple of double panels is now a track large enough for heavy vehicles to drive through the perimeter bund and behind that is just bare earth, adjacent to the edge of what has yet to be tidied. We found a little space behind the gap for a low 18m net and switched to a full height net through the bund. The next ride up was still there (albeit with knee-high vegetation for now), and we put a line of three, three panel nets there. The final double went in by the river, parallel to the bund and that wasn't ideal but there was no space to get nets across the path. We also managed two nets in the reedbed.

The morning was fairly busy, but with only two retraps. The reedbed wasn't very productive, only five Reed Warblers, one being a juvenile. Leading species was Whitethroat (and surprisingly several of these birds were adult), followed by Goldfinch. Our catch range of species was diversified by the capture of singles of Reed Bunting, Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti's Warbler.

3JJ Reed Bunting

Adult Lesser Whitethroat

Totals: 95 (2)

Blackbird - 1

Song Thrush - 2

Dunnock - 7

Cetti's Warbler - 1

Reed Warbler - 4 (1)

Lesser Whitethroat - 1

Whitethroat - 39 (1)

Blackcap - 4

Chiffchaff - 7

Blue Tit - 1

Great Tit - 5

Goldfinch - 19

Linnet - 3

Reed Bunting - 1

Wraysbury GP - 7th July 2020

A window of opportunity as the wind reduced and we were off to work on the Whitethroat RAS area. The birds were late in getting started, all except an unexpected Barn Owl that was seen over the solar panels, but as the morning drew on numbers began to build, leaving us at 128 birds for the morning.

Leading species were Blackcap, 52 new and 3 retrapped, Whitethroat 22 new and 7 retrapped and Garden Warbler 16 new with 1 retrapped.

Female Green Woodpecker age 5, in primary moult.

Totals: 114 (14)

Wren -  1

Dunnock - 7 (3)

Robin - 3

Blackbird - 5

Song Thrush - 1

Whitethroat - 22 (6)

Garden Warbler - 16 (1)

Blackcap - 52 (3) 

Chiffchaff - 2

Blue Tit - 2

Great Tit - 2

Broadwater GP - 3rd July 2020

We're experiencing yet another spell of windy weather with very strong gusts. This makes it difficult to get out and ring, obviously, but Broadwater has quite a few sheltered areas. We also needed to see if our access is still possible as the last time we visited there was a heavy metal chain, albeit unlocked when we last went, and this may be linked to the HS2 work that will be undertaken over the next several years.

Not wanting to get up early, only to find our access blocked we arrived at 8.00am to find the chain and padlock gone although a rather amateur looking monitoring post seemed to be in operation filming the road. We decided we'd have to ask the people who live at the caravans there what exactly is happening here.

We'd only just got on site when a couple of the water bailiffs from the fishing club arrived. They told us that the ground agents for the pit have now changed, explaining the lack of replies when we emailed our contact. They also knew that our side of the lake should remain untouched while the HS2 work is in progress and there will only be disruption if the planned nature centre goes ahead (in a few years time) with partial infilling of the lake at this end, and redevelopment of the old plant area to make the several hazards safe for the general public. That will probably be the end of our wild areas but they are secure for the time being. Apparently the chain had been used during lockdown as the lake had been used for illegal fishing, canoeing and swimming (a bad idea as the lake is extremely deep) with the added complication of more barges on the adjacent canal as bargees had brought them out of London during the Covid-19 peak. We also got a name from the new land agents to contact.

So, we've already achieved what we mainly came for and just put up three nets, since we'd lost a bit of time, but we were there and the trees were blocking the worst of the wind so we'd do a few birds before we left.

We'd been intending to leave by midday, but did rather well taking a catch of 80 birds and it was nearly 1pm when we finally padlocked the gate and drove off. An awful lot of the catch were tits, the Great Tits seem to have done particularly well. Blackcaps and Chiffchaff  also featured strongly in the data.

Total: 78 (2)

Blackbird - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 19
Chiffchaff - 18
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Blue Tit - 14 (2)
Great Tit - 23

It was also possible to identify Mute Swans 4AJE (cob) W21281 and 4EEX (pen) W48014 in residence on the lake with two small cygnets.

Butterflies - June 2020

and those in June......

 Marbled White - Hedgerley SP

Large Skipper - Hedgerley SP

Small Tortoiseshell - Stoke Common

Speckled Wood - Black Park CP

Comma - Black Park CP

 Small Skipper - Ditchling Common

White Admiral - Black Park CP

 Red Admiral - Black Park CP

 Small Heath - Bradenham

Dark Green Fritillary - Bradenham

 Purplke Hairstreak - Black Park

Silver-studded Blue - Chobham Common

 Marbled White - Daneway Bank

 Large Blue - Daneway Bank

 Ringlet - Daneway Bank

 Silver-washed Fritillary -  Siccaridge Wood


Dark Green Fritillary - Strawberry Bank

 Brimstone - Dry Sandford

 Essex Skipper - Dry Sandford