Stanwell Moor - 7 October 2013

Following a very stressful visit to relatives ( including finding that Chris' father wasn't properly well on discharge from hospital last week, one ambulance call out and further trips to visit him at another hospital, that seems much more on the ball than the last one) we decided that a quiet morning in the fresh air was just what we needed.

It was a late start as we know that Meadow Pipits often take a while to get going when it's misty so we erected two singles near the lake where we rather fancifully played Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warbler, and then placed the usual configuration for Mipits on the bank overlooking the M25.

Birds began to come to the tape lures staight away and we were soon catching well.

We frequently had birds in front of, in and behind the nets.

The lake nets produced a few Chiff, some tits and a retrapped Cetti's Warbler but none of the less common migrants that we were playing for. 

As the morning drew on , the wind started to get up but not before a 3M Linnet, just on of a small flock that toyed with the nets, remaining free in the main.

 

3M Linnet

One of the last captures of the morning was a Skylark, often present but rarely in the capture log.

 Skylark ( with M25 traffic in differing degrees).

 Apologies to WH and JH who were booked to come out with us on the Sunday that had to be cancelled.

Totals: 57 (4)

Skylark - 1

Meadow Pipit -48

Wren - 1 (1)

Cetti's Warbler- 0 (1)

Chiffchaff - 3

Long-tailed Tit -0(1)

Blue Tit - 3 (1)

Linnet - 1

Wraysbury GP - 1 October 2013

Tuesday saw myself join some of the ringing group for a mid week session at Wraysbury GP whilst Denise was off to work. Rain had been forecast and though at one stage it looked as if it was going to pour down, it did not materialise. Despite a period of easterlies the birds were not present in any great numbers and there was no real indication as yet of any winter migrants either. So in all only 50 new birds were rung, with the expected Blackcap and Chiff-chaffs still present, together with single late Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler.

Totals 50 (11):

Wren - 1

Dunnock - 0 (2)

Robin - 1

Blackbird - 0 (1)

Lesser Whitethroat - 1

Blackcap - 30 (1)
Chiff-chaff - 11
Willow Warbler - 1

Goldcrest - 0 (1)

Long-tailed Tit - 0 (5)

Blue Tit - 2

Great Tit - 1 (1)

Greenfinch - 1

Goldfinch - 1 

Broadwater GP - 30 September 2013

A rather disappointing session for CL, DKL, PD, MRB and Margaret with numbers well down on previous sessions this month. Obviously the best of the Autumn migration exodus is well behind us, in this area, now. All captures were either Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit or Wren. There was insufficient to keep 4 ringers ticking over and after a morning of chat we packed up and were off site  shortly after midday.

 Newly discovered ringing area suitable for a 50ft net. Looks
very promising but only found by a couple of Chiffs today.

Totals:15 (1)

Wren - 1 (1)
Blackcap - 3
Chiffchaff - 8
Blue Tit - 3