Thursday 8 September 2022

Mist netting 6/9/2022

A session was planned for Tuesday morning, to take place before the forecast rain at about 10. As it was, there was a short sharp shower at about 8, and other than that it was dry, if a bit windy. Six nets were set in the vicinity of the Discovery Hut, and 25 birds were captured, of 13 species. It was great that a lot of the birds were warblers, including 7 Sedge Warblers, 6 youngsters and an adult.

The 2 Chiffchaffs caught were both hatched this year, one was still in its juvenile plumage, and one had almost completed its post-juvenile moult. A Willow Warbler which had also completed its post-juvenile moult, provided a nice comparison to the 2 Chiffchaffs.

Chiffchaff hatched this year (age code 3), which had almost finished its post-juvenile moult

Wing of Chiffchaff showing 3 Old Greater Coverts (OGCs) with slightly browner centres & paler edges. 

Chiffchaff in juvenile plumage

Willow Warbler hatched this year, which has finished its post-juvenile moult.

A Woodpigeon, only the 18th caught by the Group since 2007, was a nice surprise. The pale green eye and the presence of 2 secondaries which were browner & slightly shorter than the rest of the wing indicate that it was probably a 2nd year bird (age code 5).

Woodpigeon

Wing of Woodpigeon showing 2 older secondary feathers. 


Ringed

Re-trapped

Blackbird

1


Blackcap

1


Blue Tit

2


Chiffchaff

2


Dunnock

1


Reed Warbler

3


Robin

1

1

Sedge Warbler

7


Song Thrush


1

Whitethroat

1


Willow Warbler

1


Woodpigeon

1


Wren

2



23

2