Wraysbury GP ringing session - 9 August 2011

We had several takers for the midweek session so it was decided that we’d give Wraysbury a go, in the knowledge that we may have to pack in early should the wind prove problematic. As it turned out it was breezy but not too breezy and the nets deployed over the area next to the CES produced reasonable numbers of birds. Around 100 new birds were ringed (112 in total with 15 retraps), including mainly Blackcap and Whitethroat. We also caught a few Willow Warbler, Chiff-chaff and single Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet and Magpie, both nothing out of the ordinary was caught or seen.

Magpie - 3

Linnet 3 female

Whitethroat - adult moult 

(primary moult below)

Totals:

Green Woodpecker - 0 (1)

Wren - 1

Dunnock - 2 (2)

Robin - 2

Blackbird - 1

Song Thrush - 2

Sedge Warbler - 2

Reed Warbler - 4

Lesser Whitethroat - 2

Whitethroat - 51 (9)

Garden Warbler - 19 (1)

Blackcap - 13 (2)

Willow Warbler - 5

Chiff-chaff - 3

Blue Tit - 2

Great Tit - 1

Magpie - 1

Linnet - 1

Reserve Naturelle National Estuaire De La Seine, Le Havre, France 6 August 2011

Today was also start of the hunting season! All quiet on the hunting front - France has 63 species on the hunting list. Todays catch totalled 151 consisting of a single Aquatic Warbler, rung by the French ringer in charge, plus a Marsh Warbler which Denise did as she had removed it out of the bag and picked up the identification during processing. Other species were a single Blue-headed Wagtail, seventeen Bluethroats, three Cetti's Warblers, two Savi's Warblers, 90 Sedge Warblers, 24 Reed Warblers, seven Bearded Tits and five Reed Bunting. Plus another controlled UK Sedge Warbler L174244. The other site had three Aquatic Warblers.

Marsh Warbler - juvenile

Aquatic Warbler - adult

Reserve Naturelle National Estuaire De La Seine, Le Havre, France 5 August 2011

Again another 5.15am start as the nets are being taken down and put up everyday was greeted by heavy rain, but Pascal being the ever optimist saw us heading off to the site which turned out despite a brief period under canvass to be a good call as after a short while the rain front moved through. Again a fairly quite day, which cnsidering the overnight weather was not surpising as it was not good for migration. The days ctach was 129 which again mainly consisted of Reed (34) and Sedge (75) Warblers, together with a single Blue-headed Wagtail, three Bluethroats, a single Cettis' Warbler, five Savi's Warblers, the first two Willow Warblers, six Bearded Tits and two Reed Bunting. We had another Uk controlled Sedge Warbler, Y166865. A Honey Buzzard flew over the site. The other team had 94 birds with nothing of note other than a UK controlled Reed Warbler L273778.

Savi's Warbler - juvenile

Bearded Tit - adult (below showing short P1, diagnostic

of an adult prior to full juvenile PJ and adult  moults)

Sedge Warbler - juvenile (Y166865)

Site photo - Pont de Normandie

Reserve Naturelle National Estuaire De La Seine, Le Havre, France 4 August 2011

Had a 5.15am start as we are now erecting nets daily and wore chest waders after seeing the water valves being opened on the channel following at the end of yesterdays high tide, but only one ride on the estuary side was under water and the pool remained bone dry. The day was interrupted when the heavens opened up around 9.15 and we headed back to the gite. On our way back there was a Wild Boar roaming in and out of the reeds onto the path. The day's catch was down to 47, with two Blue-headed Wagtails, seven Bluethroats, single Grasshopper Warbler, fourteen Sedge and twelve Reed Warblers, five Bearded Tits and six Reed Buntings. We had one UK controlled Sedge Warbler Y002080. The other team managed 55 with their first juvenile Aquatic Warbler. 

Bearded Tit - female juvenile (above shows the long P1 that is an

identifying feature of a 3J prior to PJ full moult.

Blue-headed Wagtail - adult (below showing wing in moult)

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