Broadwater GP - 28 August 2014

A damp start to the day with heavy cloud cover forecast until at least 11am tempted us, accompanied by MRB and Margaret, back to the lake edge to try for Swallows again. On arrival many Swallows were feeding around the canopy of a large tree out on one of the nearby islands, and feeding above the lake surface, and it was looking promising with some 300 or so birds present. We put up three nets, enduring a spell of heavier rain that was short lived and had stopped by the time the first two nets were up. We erected the third and began playing for Swallow.

There was some interest from the birds but most remained at the far end of the lake, the end where we usually ring but have no lakeside or sufficiently clear areas to attempt captures of hirundines. We had just caught our first bird, a Reed Warbler, when the clouds began to lift, and with them the hirundines. It was no longer favourable conditions for catching Swallows so we took down and relocated to the usual ringing location. By now it as after 10am and catching was slow. There were a few warblers and Blackcap were the most frequently caught species today.

 4M Blackcap

 3M Blackcap

We managed 14 birds, processing the last a second Reed Warbler at 1.30pm.

Total: 14

Wren - 1
Dunnock - 1
Blackcap - 5
Reed Warbler - 2
Willow Warbler -1
Chiff-chaff - 2
Blue Tit -1
Great Tit - 1

Stanwell Moor - 27 August 2014

We didn't set the alarm for an early start today since most forecasts suggested gusts in excess of 20mph, but we woke to a morning with hardly any wind. We arrived at Stanwell just after 8am, knowing that we had already missed the best catching time and put up three doubles and a single. It was immediately clear that bird activity was much less evident that at our last visit.

We returned to the first double and were a bit disappointed, but not surprised, to find only three birds awaiting extraction. The wind was also increasing and the next round only brought in a single Wren. The next drew a blank and the only other birds were a juvenile Cetti's Warbler (seventh new for 2014) and a couple of Chiff-chaffs.

Nets were down by midday.

Total: 7

Wren - 1
Robin - 1
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 1
Chiff-chaff - 2
Willow Warbler - 1

Broadwater GP - 26 August 2014

This morning threatened rain but the cloud was low, and as it was still dry after our son had been dropped off at work, we decided to try for Swallows at the sailing club end of Broadwater Lake. The gap at the end of the parking area was narrower than we had thought and we were only able to fit in a 40' net. We put up another 60' with the intention of opening it in between the showers.

We had a couple of audio-lures on and after a while the calls drew in some of the 200+ hirundines that were feeding over the lake. The rain was becoming a little harder when the first three Swallows went in from the side of the lake. Just as we went to extract them a Hobby came storming into the flock and straight into the net. We managed to keep hold of it (even though I (DKL) slipped in my efforts to get round the otherside of the net quickly, landing in some nettles, and now have severe nettle rash - that's still tingling even 5 hours later).

The bird was 2nd summer individual.

 

Hobby aged 5 

There were some more Swallows over the next couple of hours and a single Willow Warbler.

 

Juvenile Swallow 

There were a few lulls in the rain before the weather began to close in and just before we packed up a Sparrowhawk was also captured.

 

Sparrowhawk 3M

Totals: 17

Sparrowhawk - 1
Hobby - 1
Swallow - 14
Willow Warbler - 1

Stanwell Moor - 24 August 2014

This morning we set nets in the reedbed and at the opposite end of the lake just a few metres from the River Colne. After the initial reedbed catch, the birds from that part of the site soon began to dry up. The other nets proved quite productive, intercepting some large mixed flocks as they travelled between a large clump of Japanese Knotweed and brambles. We had some Hirundines low down but their eyesight was just too good to fly into the nets.

 Garden Warbler aged 3

 Goldcrest 3JJ

Reed Warbler - all 11 birds captured were juveniles

 Reed Warbler with banding on wings, tail and coverts, the result of poor
feeding in the nest when this part of the feathers were forming.

Jay aged 4

On leaving the site we found many Hirundines and Finches along the access road where two Redstarts, one a male and the other a female/immature type, were also seen. Although we did try for an additional catch we were unsuccessful, gain just an additional four birds, and had to settle for 80 birds for the day. 

Totals: 78 (2)


Wren -2 (1)
Robin -5
Dunnock - 4 (1)
Blackbird - 1
Song Thrush - 1
Reed Warbler - 11
Sedge Warbler - 2
Whitethroat - 4
Garden Warbler -2
Blackcap - 14
Willow Warbler -2
Chiff-chaff - 15
Goldcrest - 1
Blue Tit -4
Great Tit - 6
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Jay - 1
Goldfinch - 1

Wraysbury - 23 August 2014

A special group session as today sees the last Wraysbury CES attended by long serving trainer, PCD, before he moves to Cornwall. The usual CES nets were set in C4 with some additional doubles sited on C6. The session was very well attended, with additional social visits from Mike, Margaret and Lesley.

Josie successfully distracts Phil until we're ready for the group photo.

Group photo to follow.

During the session two contols were captured. All were Blackcap 3Fs and we look forward to finding out about where D715700 and Z240004 were ringed.

Many of our number retired to the Perseverence public house, for a final farewell drink, after the session.

Totals: 109 (21)

Dunnock - 4 (4)

Robin - 9 (3)
Song Thrush - 2 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 1

Reed Warbler -1 (1)

Lesser Whitethroat - 3

Whitethroat - 17 (6)

Garden Warbler - 12

Blackcap -48 (6)

Chiffchaff - 4

Blue Tit - 2

Great Tit - 2

Long-tailed Tit - 2

Bullfinch - 2

Wraysbury - 21 August 2014

Another 6am start, this time with MRB, Margaret and JB (not long for the group as he'll soon be off to Exeter following very successful A-level results) and as the days shorten it seemed that we started our activities at the brambles before the birds were up and around.

We put up 5 doubles and a further two singles to target mainly Blackcaps, Garden Warblers and Whitethroats as they feed up before heading south. The first round brought a new bird, in the form of a Lesser Whitethroat, for JB along with lots of the warbler species anticipated.

 Lesser Whitethroat 3

The stream of birds was constant and didn't begin to slow until after 10am. The most numberous species caught is now Blackcap as the Whitethroat numbers are starting to tail off a little.

There are no other photographs, with the exception of the Goldfinch below, as there wasn't much down time between ringing, extracting and scribing.This individual was busily changing its tail and flight feathers, although a juvenile head pattern is retained at present.

 3M Goldfinch

 Primary moult 5555530000

 Changing its tail

By 11.30am we had started to draw in and completed the session around midday. We all appreciate the 100+ new bird days (particularly at inland sites) and this was JB's first and a fantastic introduction to the Wraysbury site.  As always thanks to the team for your help, and best wishes to JB for your studies and continuing ringing development in the west country.

Totals: 102 (12)

Wren -1
Robin -3 (2)

Dunnock -7 (4)
Blackbird - 1
Songthrush - 3
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Whitethroat - 8
Garden Warbler - 12 (2)
Blackcap - 39 (2)
Reed Warbler - 3
Willow Warbler -5
Chiff-chaff - 2 
Blue Tit -3 (1)
Great Tit - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 5
Goldfinch - 8 (1)

Broadwater GP - 20 August 2014

An early start with CL, DKL, MRB and Margaret beginning to set nets and joined by PD and RB a short while later. We did a total of 81 birds and for the first time this autumn new Willow Warblers (20) outnumbered Chiffchaff by a substantial margin. Some earlier ringed Chiffchaffs  remain on site to be recaptured today - for this species retraps were equal to new birds.

 Juvenile Willow Warbler

Four Treecreepers were of note, one being retrapped. Fewer Blackcap and Garden Warblers than Phylloscopus were caught. When the passerines had pretty much dried up, we ended with a young male Sparrowhawk that came to investigate the birdsong from the audio-lure.

 3M Sparrowhawk

Some birds turn capture to their benefit and make the
most  of  unexpected warmth on a chilly morning.

Totals: 62 (19)

Sparrowhawk - 1
Wren - 2
Robin -1 (2)

Dunnock - 1
Garden Warbler - 2
Blackcap - 11
Willow Warbler -20 (1)
Chiff-chaff - 7 (7)
Goldcrest - 1 (1)
Blue Tit - 2
Great Tit - 2 (2)
Long-tailedTit - 8 (4)
Treecreeper - 3 (1)
Chaffinch - 1
Bullfinch - 0 (1)