16th September
We took our chance to get to Stanwell in advance of the arrival of Storm Ali and tried for a roost, followed by a morning session the next day.
It was already quite windy, although the reed-bed nets were relatively unaffected. There was no sign of any hirundines around the lake and our efforts for a roost came to nothing, as is so often the case. What never helps is that this night take off from Heathrow were to the west of the southern runway, bringing planes right over the ringing site, frequently drowning out any calls playing for the roost. The track net did rather better, capturing, for us, some migrant warblers, one being Chiffchaff KDH063 a juvenile that had been ringed at Wraysbury a few days earlier on the 12th of the month.
Totals: 13 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 9
Chiffchaff - 2 (1)
Willow Warbler - 1
17th September
The next morning was really rather breezy. We only got one Reed Warbler from the reed-bed nets, the track net was absolutely dire, only two birds from there and one of those was the Sedge Warbler from the night before and even the ground trap for Meadow Pipits only got one. It was, without doubt, our worst September day ever. We saw very few birds and at the very least birds were keeping extremely low, avoiding the raised bund that normally channels their movements or perhaps there has been a mass clearout ahead of the high winds, it's difficult to be certain but we can at least say this was our worst result ever for an autumn migration date, anywhere!
Once we'd packed up, we took the opportunity to lower the height of the buddleias along the track net so when the birds do return they won't be encouraged to cross the netted track at too great a height.
Total: 3 (1)
Meadow Pipit - 1
Reed Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 0 (1)
Chiffchaff - 1