Broadwater GP - 9 September 2013

With CL ringing in Portugal, DL arranged to meet MRB and Margaret to continue monitoring Broadwater, a relatively new site for the group that has not previously been covered in the autumn. MRB has made a couple of visits since my last outing there with a marked shift from mainly Chiffchaff in the catch of 28 birds on the 2nd to more than half of the 53 birds being Blackcap on the 5th when Chiffchaff  ETY928 was also controlled.

On arrival we were unable to set up due to persistent (unforecast) rain, but after about half an hour it eased so we put up two 60s and a 40 in the most productive positions that just happened to be those closest to our base.
The rain threatened throughout our session and started again at about 10.40am - and shortly after 11am we packed up as there seemed no prospect of a let up in the rain. There were certainly no sunny spells that featured so prominently in the forecast.

All birds were of just four species.

Total: 32 (2)

Blackcap10

Chiff-chaff  17 (1)

Blue Tit 2

Great Tit 1 (1)

Broadwater GP - 1 September 2013

CL & DKL arrived on site at about 8.30am to improve the situation regarding putting up nets. The site used to house a concrete works and much of the ground is rock hard and pegging in is impossible. We moved some breeze blocks and attached a few guys to make net erection on future visits less problematic.

 The site is covered with 100s of Buddlea bushes and moss covers most of the concrete.

Four nets were put up and the first birds were ringed at 10am. We didn't gain the sense of large numbers moving about the site as on the visits in August, nevertheless we still managed 34 birds.
Leading species was Chiffchaff (9 new and 2 retrapped) followed by Willow Warbler (7) and Blackcap (6). We also got a second young Goldcrest and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Juvenile Lesser Whitethroat

Robin in post-juvenile moult

Total: 32 (2)

Wren 1

Robin 2

Reed Warbler 2
Lesser Whitethroat 1

Blackcap 6

Chiff-chaff  9 (2)

Willow Warbler7

Blue Tit 2

Great Tit 1

Stanwell Moor - 30 August 2013

We were joined by MRB and Margaret for one of our infrequent morning sessions at the site. We deployed nets in the reedbed area, the bramble lined spit and the cut through. We could see birds moving about the site but the route taken by birds working the hedgerows avoided our nets by and large. The reedbed was a little more productive and it was good to know that there were still Reed Warblers for the catching (despite the absence of their song on the last couple of visits).

Our most significant find was an adult Blue Tit V791026, ringed at the site on 22/12/2007 as an adult making it at least seven years old.

V791026

Total:  25 (1)

Wren1

Robin 2

Dunnock 1

Blackbird 3
Song Thrush 2 
Sedge Warbler 1

Reed Warbler 5
Whitethroat 1

Garden Warbler 1

Blackcap 2

Chiff-chaff 4

Blue Tit 1 (1)

Great Tit 1

Wraysbury Gravel pit - 29 August 2013

A walk around the site the previous day had produced a good number of birds in an area between the sailing club and the CES site across the stream. The section once was an area containing low trees and a fairly extensive patches of blackberries, but due to degradation by 'unofficial' use of the area for grazing ponies, which have almost doubled this year, the habitat is much less, but in what there is, seemed 'alive' with birds. I decided to make a ringing visit the next day, not without some concerns for the nets due to the four hoofed friends, but it went off okay, though the ponies remained ever close and needed a watchful eye keeping on them. With just four nets in a fairly confined area, 60 birds were processed, mainly Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiff-chaff.

Totals: 55 (5)

Dunnock - 6
Robin - 2
Whitethroat - 11 (1)
Garden warbler - 4
Blackcap - 18 (2)
Chiff-chaff - 12 (2)
Blue Tit - 1
Great Tit -1

Stanwell Moor - 27/28 August 2013

It being some time since we'd been at Stanwell in the evening, we arrived at 7pm to see what was happening at the site. GDB joined us and a 60ft net was swiftly put up in the filterbed area. We found that the reeds had again fallen across the path and ride but this didn't create too much of a problem and three further nets were erected. Unfortunately, one of the wooden pegs floated up from the lake bed and during our efforts to re-set the nets we ended up with the fixed post snapping off close to its base. The nets were clear at the time but we were sorting it out when a small group of swallows came for a look. Two Hobbies then took an interest in the small flock - and that was the last we saw of them. For all our effort we ended up with three Great Tits and two Chiffchaffs in the knowledge that the nights were really closing in and 7pm was really too late to start.
Chris decided to call back to do some 'gardening' on the 28th and caught a Cetti's and a Reed Warbler in one net while he did some site maintenance.

27/08 Totals: 4 (1)

Chiffchaff - 2
Great Tit - 2 (1)

28/08 Totals: 2

Cetti's Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 1

Broadwater GP - 26 August 2013

Following on from our last visit when in excess of 80 birds were ringed, we arranged to meet PD, MRB and Margaret to give the site another go. We had all net up before 8am and began catching soon after. We were also joined by MBR, Caroline, Jessica and Amy - once they finally found the site.

There was a Cetti's Warbler, singing throughout the morning but it managed to evade our nets. We managed to better our previous total with the leading species being Chiff-chaff with four birds still present from the 13th. There were also good numbers of Willow Warbler and Blackcap with a few Garden Warbler for good measure. The catching began to drop off after 11am and we were all packed and off site shortly after 12.30pm.

Age 3 Garden Warbler

Total: 87 (4)

Wren 2

Robin 3

Dunnock 1

Blackbird 1

Reed Warbler 1

Garden Warbler 3

Blackcap 11

Chiff-chaff 28 (4)

Willow Warbler 13

Treecreeper 2

Blue Tit 14

Great Tit 3

Long-tailed Tit 4

Chaffinch 1

Pendeen, Kenidjack, Sennen Cove and Hayle Estuary - 24 August 2013

We started the day at Pendeen. There was a northwesterly blow, less strong than when we were last here and a minimal chance of rain. There were fewer people to scan for passing seabirds and of course some time was given up to discussing the precise events of the day all but one dipped on Red-billed Tropicbird. We spent about three hours scanning the waves and saw hundreds of Manx Shearwater with some Sootys and Balearics. There were a few groups of Scoter and several Arctic Skuas but not a glimpse of Great or Cory's, even at a great distance off shore.

 

The coast at Pendeen

We then drove to Kenidjack. It's been years since we visited and although we saw nothing more interesting than a Buzzard, a Whitethroat and several Chiffchaff, it was extremely promising due to the open nature of the vegetation and definitely worth a look when migrants are about.

 Kenidjack valley

We then checked out Sennen Cove. Birds tend to collect in the area below the car park. Chris had a quick look but the only find was a Wheatear on the parking area.

 Northern Wheatear

 Sennen Cove directly below 'migrant trap' area.

The final stop off before driving back to Buckinghamshire was the Hayle Estuary. The tide was out and all the gulls were scattered over a wide area. A close check for anything out of the ordinary or wearing colour rings eventually turned up a Med Gull to round off our week spent in the West Country.

Mediterranean Gull