A 6am start for the team of five (CL/DKL/HD/WA/LON) but time was lost trying to return several ponies back to the other side of the fence. Some were herded through the gate but others retreated to the far side of the site and we had to be content with that.
We put a total of nine nets up and catching was rather slow at first. As we watched the birds moving around the site it was clear that the numbers of Blackcap and Garden Warbler had dropped considerably in comparison to recent catches. We took our first capture of a flock from the double along the access track. There were plenty of Long-tailed Tits, a few Blue Tits and some Whitethroats and Willow Warblers that had been travelling with them.
We continued to see a similar pattern in behaviour as we caught several birds of different species in some nets, from time to time, with nothing appearing in others. Mixed flocks could be seen moving around the site. There were definitely far fewer birds foraging individually - a marked change from our recent visits here.
Totals: 88 (14)
We put a total of nine nets up and catching was rather slow at first. As we watched the birds moving around the site it was clear that the numbers of Blackcap and Garden Warbler had dropped considerably in comparison to recent catches. We took our first capture of a flock from the double along the access track. There were plenty of Long-tailed Tits, a few Blue Tits and some Whitethroats and Willow Warblers that had been travelling with them.
Reed Warbler aged 3
Sedge Warbler aged 3
3M Goldcrest
We continued to see a similar pattern in behaviour as we caught several birds of different species in some nets, from time to time, with nothing appearing in others. Mixed flocks could be seen moving around the site. There were definitely far fewer birds foraging individually - a marked change from our recent visits here.
Totals: 88 (14)
Wren - 1
Dunnock - 2
Sedge Warbler - 2
Reed Warbler - 3
Whitethroat - 27 (2)
Garden Warbler - 4 (4)
Blackcap - 5 (3)
Chiffchaff - 10 (1)
Willow Warbler - 9
Goldcrest - 7
Long-tailed Tit - 13 (3)
Blue Tit - 4 (1)
Chaffinch - 1
Whitethroat - 27 (2)
Garden Warbler - 4 (4)
Blackcap - 5 (3)
Chiffchaff - 10 (1)
Willow Warbler - 9
Goldcrest - 7
Long-tailed Tit - 13 (3)
Blue Tit - 4 (1)
Chaffinch - 1