Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Wraysbury GP

Tuesday, 21 May 2019

Wraysbury GP - 18th May 2019

Jay age 5

First time out locally today took us to Wraysbury GP where the main team were doing CES and we covered another area outside of it for the Whitethroat RAS, with LON and WA. This is the fifth year and, in view of the drastic changes to the habitat as a result of attempts to control the vetch, will probably be the last.

Our team of four had a total of nine nets up and managed a respectable 58 birds. This included two retrapped Whitethroats, ringed in August 2018. There were also other Whitethroats, either new or previously captured by our trainees in April.

It was unusual to see that Garden Warbler captures outnumbered that of Blackcaps. However it was a Blackcap recapture of Blackcap Z763858, ringed as a juvenile at Wraysbury on 3rd September 2016 that provided most interest. The day was rounded off with the capture of a Jay, providing LON with an opportunity to practise handling of a larger species.

Totals: 33 (26)

Dunnock - 3 (5)
Robin - 7 (1)
Song Thrush - 1 (2)
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 5 (6)
Garden Warbler - 5 (4)
Blackcap - 5 (3)
Long-tailed Tit - 5 (1)
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Great Tit - 0 (3)
Treecreeper - 1
Jay - 1

For the time being C6 is showing signs of recovery after after

episodes of cutting and weed killer over the last few years.

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.