A more promising day with a light South Easterly wind and no rain in the forecast. Nets were dropped a little earlier than planned, the result of being woken 45 minutes before the alarmclock was set for when an alarm was set off somewhere in the distance. It sounded so close that we were convinced it was coming from the Naturum building but after investigation this was not the case and without time to get back to sleep we dropped the nets for 5am.
There was a notable change in the birds today, the last two days the reedbed was quite prominant with quite a few Acros, today it was more or less producing little with the birds being more focused in the bushes. There had been an influx of Robins and a few more Chiffchaff than of late. A group of five Fieldfare dropped in during the late morning and one remained to the end of the day.
We attempted a roost but only three birds were seen to drop into the reedbed, one of these being caught. We noted that Starlings are beginning to roost in small numbers. Having only one bird to process, we then set two nets for owls but were unsuccessful this evening.
Total: 116 (24)
Woodpigeon - 1
Swallow - 9
Tree Pipit - 1
Meadow Pipit - 8 (1)
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1
Wren - 1
Dunnock - 8
Robin - 22 (3)
Blackbird - 1 (1)
Redstart - 4 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 4
Reed Warbler - 8 (1)
Garden Warbler - 7 (3)
Blackcap - 23 (5)
Willow Warbler - 1 (3)
Chiffchaff - 14 (3)
Blue Tit - 1 (2)
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Reed Bunting - 2
13th September
A second day with a light South Easterly wind in the morning. The first round was rather disappointing with only a handful of birds. The second round produced a little more including a Fieldfare that had been drawn to one of the audiolures and a number of Reed Bunting from the reedbed. Chris had changed the soundtrack after so few Reed Warblers were caught, seen or heard on the first round. Numbers of Blackcap and Garden Warbler are dropping, but there were more Chiffchaff today. Meadow Pipit was the leading species and a Yellowhammer that was caught with them provided a little extra diversity on a day that brought our largest total of new birds yet.
Nets around the garden were also opened from 5pm.
Total: 153 (18)
Swallow - 6
Tree Pipit - 1
Meadow Pipit - 37 (1)
White Wagtail - 1
Wren - 3 (1)
Dunnock - 2 (1)
Robin - 11 (2)
Redstart - 3 (1)
Fieldfare - 1
Sedge Warbler - 0 (1)
Reed Warbler - 4
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 (2)
Whitethroat - 3 (2)
Garden Warbler - 6 (3)
Blackcap - 12 (1)
Chiffchaff - 17
Blue Tit - 6 (2)
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Tree Sparrow - 2
Yellowhammer - 1
Reed Bunting - 33
There was a notable change in the birds today, the last two days the reedbed was quite prominant with quite a few Acros, today it was more or less producing little with the birds being more focused in the bushes. There had been an influx of Robins and a few more Chiffchaff than of late. A group of five Fieldfare dropped in during the late morning and one remained to the end of the day.
We attempted a roost but only three birds were seen to drop into the reedbed, one of these being caught. We noted that Starlings are beginning to roost in small numbers. Having only one bird to process, we then set two nets for owls but were unsuccessful this evening.
Juvenile Robin
This young Woodpigeon has been around the house ever since we arrived.
It was only a matter of time.
Only the second Wren since we started here.
Total: 116 (24)
Woodpigeon - 1
Swallow - 9
Tree Pipit - 1
Meadow Pipit - 8 (1)
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1
Wren - 1
Dunnock - 8
Robin - 22 (3)
Blackbird - 1 (1)
Redstart - 4 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 4
Reed Warbler - 8 (1)
Garden Warbler - 7 (3)
Blackcap - 23 (5)
Willow Warbler - 1 (3)
Chiffchaff - 14 (3)
Blue Tit - 1 (2)
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Reed Bunting - 2
13th September
A second day with a light South Easterly wind in the morning. The first round was rather disappointing with only a handful of birds. The second round produced a little more including a Fieldfare that had been drawn to one of the audiolures and a number of Reed Bunting from the reedbed. Chris had changed the soundtrack after so few Reed Warblers were caught, seen or heard on the first round. Numbers of Blackcap and Garden Warbler are dropping, but there were more Chiffchaff today. Meadow Pipit was the leading species and a Yellowhammer that was caught with them provided a little extra diversity on a day that brought our largest total of new birds yet.
Nets around the garden were also opened from 5pm.
Fieldfare - juvenile male
One of 33 Reed Buntings caught today.
Adult Bluetit - a migratory species here.
Yellowhammer
Total: 153 (18)
Swallow - 6
Tree Pipit - 1
Meadow Pipit - 37 (1)
White Wagtail - 1
Wren - 3 (1)
Dunnock - 2 (1)
Robin - 11 (2)
Redstart - 3 (1)
Fieldfare - 1
Sedge Warbler - 0 (1)
Reed Warbler - 4
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 (2)
Whitethroat - 3 (2)
Garden Warbler - 6 (3)
Blackcap - 12 (1)
Chiffchaff - 17
Blue Tit - 6 (2)
Great Tit - 3 (1)
Tree Sparrow - 2
Yellowhammer - 1
Reed Bunting - 33