Aquatic Warbler project, Frossay, Loire valley, Massereau site - 19th August & 20th August 2023

The Migron site operated for 19th and 20th, but we switched our attention to the main site at Massereau.

Our first day was quiet, or calme as the French say and we only just exceeded the 100 birds mark. Migron performed well, low numbers but an Aquatic Warbler from Poland carrying a red darvic ring. The site was actually due to close after the 18th but another French bagueur agreed to cover the weekend and a number of 'controles' (all subsequent encounters) made the additional effort worthwhile.

Juvenile Wryneck

At Massereau we captured just over 100 birds with a couple of Aquatics. There was a Wryneck for the third day in a row. It was very hot and we were grateful for the rustic ringing station that kept the sun off, but not the mosquitoes out!

The second day saw the team reduce down to 5 from 7. There were 224 new birds, including a Quail, wagtails, some Whinchats, 5 Aquatic Warblers and the first Song Thrush so far. There was also an English Sedge Warbler. There was an additional 88 new and 22 controles at Mignon.

Juvenile Quail, probable female

Juvenile Blue-headed and Yellow Wagtails

Whinchat juvenile female

The site consists of 108m total full height nets playing for Acrola with 108m total playing Sejour, or other species within a currently dry reed bed. There is also a combination for Quail in an adjacent field. Combined teams Gilles, Seb, Laurent, Lory, Tifan, Morgaune and us. We are grateful to LPO, Loire Atlantique for accepting us as guests on the project this year.