Wraysbury GP - 27th November 2020

 A rather chilly session arranged with the expressed intention of catching winter thrushes. There was a welcome ally in the form of a thick fog that hung over the site as a watery sun shone indistinctly through the murk. The weather conditions kept the Redwings dropping into the netting area throughout the morning with birds getting caught in ones and twos each round.

There were some quite large flocks of Redwing on site, with Fieldfare present in smaller numbers.

Total: 29 (6)

Robin - 0 (2)
Dunnock - 0 (1)
Blackbird - 2
Redwing - 18
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 1
Blue Tit - 1 (2)
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 5
Greenfinch - 1

Stanwell Moor GP - 26th November 2020

 A rather disappointing session. There seemed to be little around and definitely no large numbers of Redwing or Meadow Pipits. However, we did get three Lesser Redpoll and a female Blackcap. The Linnet flock and Goldcrest were conspicuous by their absence.

Total: 11 (2)

Green Woodpecker - 1
Robin - 2 (1)
Dunnock - 0 (1)
Blackbird - 1
Redwing - 1
Blackcap - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 3

Stanwell Moor GP - 10th November 2020

Coming to the end of a relatively calm period of weather we returned to the North end of Stanwell to try for Redwing and Meadow Pipits. We had a promising start with five Chiffchaffs captured in the first round. After that the Redwing trickled in, in twos and threes, while the Meadow Pipits, only present in small numbers, were more difficult altogether. Goldcrest JTL158 was captured for the third session running, showing that the bird has travelled between North and South ends of the site between the 4th and 11th. The least expected capture was a 3 male Linnet where the finch flock was nowhere to be seen.

Linnet 3M

Totals: 21 (6)

Meadow Pipit - 4
Redwing -  9
Robin - 0 (4)
Chiffchaff - 4 (1)
Goldcrest - 0 (1)
Great Tit- 2
Goldfinch - 1
Linnet - 1

Stanwell Moor GP - 8th November 2020

It's a while  since we monitored the south side, but with the HGVs not operating on on Sunday, we decided to give it a go today. We set a triangle across the muddy track, a couple of singles near the river and two further nets in the reedbed. The reedbed ride was wet along the entirety of its length.

It was a hard slog to eventually reach figures into the low twenties, the Meadow Pipits being caught only in ones and twos. We only attained this total with the addition of part of a tit flock.

Meadow Pipit

Total: 23 (3)  

Meadow Pipit - 8
Wren - 2
Dunnock - 2
Robin - 3 (1)
Goldcrest - 1 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 6
Blue Tit - 0 (1)
Chaffinch - 1

Wraysbury GP - 6th November 2020

A focus on Meadow Pipit and Redwing resulted in a catch of 31 birds, although a lot were neither of the target species. There were few Meadow Pipits and one one was caught. Redwings dropped in, in ones and twos throughout the morning to become the leading species on the data sheet. Among the remainder of the catch was singles of Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest and Chiff-chaff. 

Totals: 26 (6)

Meadow Pipit - 1
Redwing - 15
Wren - 2 (1) 
Robin - 1 (1)
Dunnock - 0 (2)
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 3 (1)
Great Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 0 (1)

Stanwell Moor GP - 4th November 2020

It's quite a while since we've been out due to windy and wet conditions and also being quite busy, but had to take advantage of today, the wind being so low and with the 4 week lockdown due to commence tomorrow.

It was a bitty catch, a few of these and a few of those without a great deal of any of the target species. Meadow Pipits were elusive, Redwings arrived in small groups but mainly remained in the highest trees within, but above the nets and Lesser Redpolls were limited to a group of six attracted but with only 50% captured. Leading species was Goldcrest including a retrap that probably made its way across from Wraysbury GP. We will await confirmation.

A young Blackcap was the least expected catch.

3M Blackcap, the lack of fat appears indicative of a wintering bird

One of three adult Redwing captured

Total: 29 (2)

Meadow Pipit - 1
Wren - 2
Dunnock - 2
Robin - 2
Redwing - 3
Song Thrush - 2
Blackcap - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 6 (1)
Long-tailed Tit - 4 (1)
Blue Tit - 1
Goldfinch - 1
Lesser Redpoll - 3