Due to other commitments it's been three weeks since our last visit so we headed to the site, with shears just in case, to do an evening session. We knew from the recent result at nearby Wraysbury gravel pits that birds should be around so we went to find out how much the level of the lake had dropped, how the vegetation had developed over the last few weeks and to see if we might catch a few birds.
The shears were definitely needed as the reeds had grown to the point where they had toppled into the ride, essentially blocking a section some fifteen long. Then there were, of course, the usual up shoots along the ride floor but these were only a foot or so high and not a problem. The lake had receeded further and it was now possible to reach the furthest nest post side without the use of waders! We didn't venture around to the other spit - but needless to say there will be much bramble to remove before we can site a net there.
We tidied a little then put up three nets in the reed bed and into the lake with an additional net placed in the old filter bed ride. We began catching straight away. The Reed Warblers were mainly youngsters. We also attracted some juvenile Chiff-chaffs with a single Sedge Warbler and our first Cetti's Warbler of the year. We do not think the Cetti's bred near the ringing ride but a male was consistently heard from some 200m away in vegetation bordering the Colne that runs along the closest boundary line.
There were few hirundines above when we arrived but some small groups dropped in to take advantage of the many mosquitoes swarming above the reeds and some of them also found the net.
The shears were definitely needed as the reeds had grown to the point where they had toppled into the ride, essentially blocking a section some fifteen long. Then there were, of course, the usual up shoots along the ride floor but these were only a foot or so high and not a problem. The lake had receeded further and it was now possible to reach the furthest nest post side without the use of waders! We didn't venture around to the other spit - but needless to say there will be much bramble to remove before we can site a net there.
We tidied a little then put up three nets in the reed bed and into the lake with an additional net placed in the old filter bed ride. We began catching straight away. The Reed Warblers were mainly youngsters. We also attracted some juvenile Chiff-chaffs with a single Sedge Warbler and our first Cetti's Warbler of the year. We do not think the Cetti's bred near the ringing ride but a male was consistently heard from some 200m away in vegetation bordering the Colne that runs along the closest boundary line.
There were few hirundines above when we arrived but some small groups dropped in to take advantage of the many mosquitoes swarming above the reeds and some of them also found the net.
3J Cetti's Warbler Y979840
Juvenile Sand Martin
Totals -17 (1)
Sand Martin - 2
Swallow - 4
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 5 (1)
Great Tit - 1
Chiff-chaff - 3