Sunday, 28 August 2022

Deepdale Farm - 28th August 2022

Seven nets were put up and 27 birds captured. It is clear that there isn't a great deal of thoroughfare through Hill Piece, and now that few birds are feeding on the set aside catching is more difficult. The trees are high, so small flocks that do pass through are often above net height.

Jay, adult, marked with darvic H4, black print on white, 
for the University of East Anglia study.

This young male Blackcap showed a great deal of interest on hearing the engine of a microlite overhead. It appeared to look in the direction of the sound and remained on Chris' hand
 for several minutes.

There were a few migrant warblers still, Blackcap and Whitethroat in equal numbers. We suspected that there may have been some drift across the channel as some Whitethroats has particularly low weights, including one at 11.8g. Very much in contrast to the last of the morning with fat score 2 and a weight of 16.9g. Further credence was added to the theory of birds having crossed the channel with news of a newly located Pied Flycatcher at Wells Wood.

This juvenile Whitethroat was notable for being in the process of moulting in new 
central tail feathers. This is usual in Chiffchaff , Blue Tit and Great Tit but 
much less common in Whitethroats and the other Sylvia warblers.

Total: 23 (4)

Jay - 1
Wren - 2 (2)
Dunnock - 1 (2)
Whitethroat - 7
Blackcap - 7
Chiffchaff - 2
Long-tailed - 1
Blue Tit - 2