Reserve Naturelle National Estuaire De La Seine, Le Havre, France 3 August 2011

The 5.30am start at the site was met with annoyance of finding that the nets and poles on three of the four triple 60 ft rides had been stolen overnight. Whilst the one remaining net ride was opened the early chance of a possible Aquatic was lost due to the fact new nets and poles had to be got from the office in Le Harve. Again the team consisted of nine people. Despite the lose of three rides at the start if the day a total if 117 birds were caught with nothing out of the ordinary. The main catch consisted Reed (36) and Sedge (66) Warblers, along with four Bluethroat, single Savi's Warbler, nine Bearded Tit, and for the site a minor rarity in the form of a single Blue Tit. The other site had 102 birds also with nothing of note.

Bearded Tit - adult female

During a later drive around a Wild Boar was seen near the ringing site and in a muddy roadside pool, the ex scurge of Norfolk was seen in the form of a couple of Coypu.

Coypu

Reserve Naturelle National Estuaire De La Seine, Le Havre, France 2 August 2011

A slightly later start at 5.30am start saw us straight to our team's site. The team consisted of nine people and it showed early signs of not matching the previous day's catch. A total if 144 birds were caught with a single  Marsh Warbler, dominated by Reed (45) and Sedge (63) Warblers, with seven Bluethroats, two Savi's Warbler, twelve Bearded Tits and four Reed Bunting, along with a single Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat and Linnet. Around 50 Spoonbills were seen on the estuary mud flats. The other site were fortunate enough to have again single Aquatic and Marsh Warblers. The other teams catch was 107 again with a single Aquatic and Marsh Warbler.

Savi's Warbler - juvenile

Ringing Site

 Pools waiting to be filled by high tied water, which did not occur.

Reserve Naturelle National Estuaire De La Seine, Le Havre, France 1 August 2011

A 5am start saw our team off to the marshes where we split into two teams to cover the two ringing sites. Our team of seven had a particuarly busy start with one net line of three 60s (no.1) possibly having around sixty birds in it, with just under 50% being Bearded Tits. Further rounds naturally dropped off, with an obvious drop after 10am.  Nothing outstanding was seen flying over. By midday it was in the high 20s and it was time to pack up. Every one was wearing waders and I suspect someone might have wished they checked the tide tables as today was not one of the soon to be expected high tides that will flood the marsh, and wearing something akin to a wetsuit in the heat is not to be overly recommended. In all 250 birds were caught with a single re-trapped French rung Aquatic Warbler, from the first round (net run 3), later a single Savi's and Marsh Warbler, with Bearded Tits (77), Reed (66) and Sedge (82) Warblers dominating, plus thirteen Bluethroats, three Cetti's, two Grasshopper Warbler and three Reed Bunting, along with a single Blue-headed Wagtail and Whitethroat. The other site were fortunate enough to have single new Aquatic and Marsh Warblers. The other team operating a seperate site had 107 birds with one new adult Aquatic Warbler and a single Marsh Warbler.

Net ride - first round

Adult Aquatic Warbler

Juvenile male Bluethroat

Juvenile Marsh Warbler

Juvenile male Bearded Tit

Stanwell Moor ringing site - 28 July 2011

Another solo evening session and we were fortunate for the first time in a while that the Hirundine roost formed, which for a small reed bed/willow carr area was a decent catch, not up to the roosts that you can get in a decent sized reedbed, but good enough considering no one is doing one anywhere else within the area. Reasonable evening, with in just over 3+ hours 64 birds, including a controlled Chiff-chaff DTJ285 and a Whitethroat X763165 from the groups nearby site at Wraysbury rung on 2/8/2009.

Chiff-chaff - adult

Totals:
Kingfisher - 0 (1)
Sand Martin - 14
Swallow - 11
Robin - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 7 (1)
Whitethroat - 6 (2)
Garden Warbler - 8
Blackcap - 4
Willow Warbler - 1
Chiff-chaff - 3 (1 control)
Blue Tit - 3

Stanwell Moor ringing site - 27 July 2011

One of our usual evening session, just D and myself. Sand martins turned up about 9 but none roosted. There are more Starlings present this year and we are beginning to wonder are they putting off the Sand Martins? Just over 3 hours produced 42 birds. Two Kingfishers that had been chasing each other around the lake were caught, with one whilst it was lying on the scales being weighed hearded a thrid one and flipped it's self over and flow off.

 Feamle Greenfinch (5)

Juvenile Kingfisher

Totals:

Kingfisher - 2 

Sedge Warbler - 4

Reed Warbler - 12 (1)

Whitethroat - 9 (1)

Garden Warbler -2 

Chiff-chaff - 5 (1)

Blue Tit -1

Long-tailed Tit - 2

Greenfinch - 2

Wraysbury GP ringing session - 26 July 2011

An out of CES ringing session at Wraysbury specifically targeting migrants saw five of us turn up. Nets were set on the south side of the site around various known hot spots for feeding flocks concentrating on clumps of bramble. Three pairs of 60 ft and two single 40ft nets were set up which caught well giving us a fairly active morning with 200 birds caught.

Moulting adult Whitethroat

Species:

Great Woodpecker 1 (1)

Robin - 4 (1)

Dunnock - 4

Blackbird - 3

Song Thrush - 1

Reed Warbler - 1

Whitethroat -81 (7)

Garden Warbler - 27 (2)

Blackcap - 43 (3)

Chiff-chaff -15

Willow Warbler - 3

Blue Tit - 4 (1)

Great Tit - 2 

Chaffinch - 1

Linnet - 5

Homefield Wood - 25 July 2011

Another visit to try and collect a few more White-letter Hairstreak photos. Pleasant mornings walk with just one being seen along with a good variety of butterflies including 8 Silver-washed Fritillaries, two Holly Blues and five Brown Argus.

Peacock, Silver-washed Fritillary and Comma

Holly Blue

White-letter Hairstreak

Silver-washed Fritillary valesina