Tuesday 4 August 2015

Different site proves a success!

To ensure the whole of the Group's monitoring areas are covered today's efforts were concentrated on the crop field and adjacent reed bed on Colyford Common. These areas are infrequently covered, but today an attempt was made and success prevailed.

Despite the likelihood of windy conditions bringing the session to an early conclusion the Group caught 52 birds of 15 species and only two retraps. The birds were:

Sedge Warbler 3; Reed Warbler 22; Dunnock 2; Whitethroat 2; Goldfinch 5; Great Tit 8; Blue Tit 1; Wren 2; Chiffchaff 1; House Sparrow 1; Greenfinch 1; Robin 1 (retrap); Blackbird 1 (retrap); Blackcap 1 and a Kingfisher. The latter was a surprise catch as it was at a site not expected for this species. The two Whitethroats were juveniles as were most of those caught. A worthwhile monitoring session of an area infrequently used.

Juvenile Whitethroat
Juvenile Kingfisher
(Photos Mike Tyler)