After a very cold night the fresh marsh was partially frozen, including the mud, and that actually made it a little easier getting over to the area where the nets for Water Pipits were set. Much of the fresh marsh is now under water so areas suitable for placing nets are limited. In addition, the Water Pipits are ranging further from where we ring now as so much grass and earth is flooded.
As expected the catch was rather low, but happily there was a single Water Pipit amongst the Reed Buntings and the first winter bird began the fourth colour-ringed bird at Ken Hill this season and the 40th bird added to the project since it went national in 2020.
1st winter Water Pipit
Some Reed Buntings had been roosting in the reeds and all five captured birds were males, attracted to the audio-lure as they left the roost.
5 Male Reed Bunting.
Ken Hill is currently hosting Winter Watch and we hope the Water Pipit project might get some coverage. There is certainly plenty of kit and cabling in the vicinity of where the Water Pipits have been and filming may be possible. These chaps found the unfamiliar objects extremely interesting and thoroughly investigated the cables, cases and drive over cable covers in the frosty morning.
Total: 6
Water Pipit - 1
Reed Bunting - 5