Another chance to catch migrants saw us at our Salisbury Plain site nice and early to set the nets in the dark to make the most of the lures we use.
While setting the nets we kicked a Nightjar off of the main track but sadly we didn't catch it. Chat Valley was shrouded in mist so a quick check of the net in the dark to shake off the water returned us 3 Whinchats. A Wheatear perched on fence post couldn't however be pushed nearer the net despite trying to use the car to flush it nearer.
We again caught some nice birds with 3 Grasshopper Warbler's in the first round and 4 Redstart's later on in the morning. The photo below shows the difference between juvenile and adult with the juvenile on the left with the buff fringes to the greater coverts and the adult on the right with the grey fringed greater coverts.
Today was certainly a big warbler day with our highest Whitethroat catch of the year so far, an increase in Blackcap numbers and a very sizeable Willow Warbler catch. 191 new and 23 retraps was the highest catch of the autumn so far. GD/PD/OF
Tree Pipit 3, Wren 5, Dunnock 1, Robin 9(4), Redstart 4, Whinchat 4(1), Blackbird 3(2), Song Thrush 1, Grasshopper Warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 14, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 62(4), Garden Warbler 3(2), Blackcap 44(10), Chiffchaff 5, Willow Warbler 23, Yellowhammer 3