For the first time in three weeks the weather was good enough for a session at Wraysbury. We set seven nets and captured 30 birds over the course of the morning. Most importantly, we got five returning Whitethroat that can contribute to out RAS (Retrapping Adults for Survival) study, along with some new birds. This is our 6th year of collecting data for this study that is the only RAS study on Whitethroat in the UK.
Total: 16 (14)
Robin - 6 (2)
Dunnock - 2 (4)
Reed Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 2 (5)
Garden Warbler - 2 (1)
Blackcap - 0 (1)
Chiffchaff - 0 (1)
Blue Tit - 2
Great Tit - 1
A rather less welcome presence in one of our nets was a rather energetic Spaniel, belonging to a fisherman that seemed to think that dogs running everywhere can be considered under control. Wouldn't even call them back when a brand new 12m was threatened. Sad to see the 15m net made by Francis Argyle reach the point where it has to be taken out of use. 2m length holes in the bottom panel just don't catch birds safely or effectively. Thankfully the bailiff was called and some time spent chatting to him, hopefully reached some common ground, payment for the damaged net was offered the next day, which as it was just about past its best, was not taken up in the sprit of moving forward with a more positive understanding of our right to be on the large parcel of adjacent land, as the land owner is funding our work, and we do not encroach on the narrow bankside strip owned by the fishing group. In fact we never knew it was being used, accepted that on two recent occasions folk have had their dogs with them, and it is the dogs that have made is aware they are fishing on the nearby bank.