Stanwell Moor GP - 4th September 2017

After a day of rain we decided to put in a few hours trying for hirundines at Stanwell Moor. The clouds were quite low and two nets were erected on the soil mounds. We also put up one net on the track and another 6m for Cetti's Warbler by the river.

Groups of Hirundines were going through all morning, but although our tapes drew their attention, they were keen to move on and we only succeeded in catching one. A few Meadow Pipits were dropping in from time to time, most likely local breeders, and two juveniles were captured.

Juvenile Swallow

We got a few different warbers including a control Blackcap, but not the Cetti's Warbler. We also caught two Goldfinch.

At take down time we already have all but the double, put up for swallows, down. Chris was just taking some of the kit back to the car when a party of 20 or so Yellow Wagtails dropped in near the Meadow Pipit tape. Two went into the net, but only one stayed in. We did try changing the tape but birds could not be attracted back into the area of the net.

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Totals: 17 (1)

Swallow - 1
Meadow Pipit - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 1
Blackbird - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 7 (1 control)
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldfinch - 2
  

Stanwell Moor GP - 27th August 2017

After trying for Swallows on the previous evening with only three Chiffchaff to show for an evening spent there, we were back for 6am and set four nets in the reed bed and a total of five on the soil heaps, now mostly covered with straggly weeds.

The first bird out of the nets, in which we were hoping to catch Meadow Pipit, was in fact a Yellow Wagtail. We heard a few fly over and thought they may have roosted somewhere in the surrounding area.

 Yellow Wagtail age 3

We did catch some Meadow Pipits, but they moved off after a couple of hours, possibly as a result of the planes taking off directly over head every 90 seconds.

Meadow Pipit aged 3 with one newly emerged GC and retained juvenile coverts.

There were a few Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat. Also three Sedge Warbler, one with a fat score of 8. This bird weighed 17g, unprecedented at our inland site. We have only seen such heavy Sedge Warblers when ringing in Cornwall at Marizion. It looks as though the bird intends to make a lengthy flight for the next stage of its migration.

Sedge Warbler with complete coverage of fat, Fat 8, weight 17g

The only Reed Warbler caught wasn't actually in the reedbed but travelling with a mixed flock and the reedbed was really rather quiet compared to recent weeks.

Totals: 36 (3)

Yellow Wagtail - 1
Meadow Pipit - 5
Robin - 1 (1)
Cetti's Warbler - 0 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 3
Reed Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 5 (1)
Blackcap - 8
Chiffchaff - 8
Willow Warbler - 1
Blue Tit - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 1 (1)