SALISBURY PLAIN (CENTRE)
After a record breaking week we were again hoping for a good catch but were somewhat hampered by the weather. Driving to the site we had clear skies which soon clouded over producing thick fog banks. Fog always reduces our catches and expereience at this site tells us that the catch could be up to 60% down.
The first net round was a little disappointing as it was obvious that Blackcap numbers were going to be well down on the last few visits. Numbers then began to pick up a little with Chiffchaff's around in good numbers as well as a few nice birds in the form of a Grasshopper Warbler, a Redstart and 3 Tree Pipit's and another Sparrowhawk.
Due to the fog Meadow Pipit movement was non existant as was any hirundine migration until the fog began to llift. As soon as we saw a few Swallow's around we switched over the lures and soon caught a few. House Martin's began to build up over the same net that we had caught the 190 in earlier in the week and we soon had another 20 bagged up. However, that was all we got despite a flock of 100 around nets as the increasing wind was making the net obvious.
We also caught a control Chiffchaff, our third control this week and the 7th of the Autumn for this site.
Whitethroat numbers have dropped off dramatically but we managed another 5 this morning taking our years total to exactly 500. We even finished on a Lesser Whitethroat, a species that everyone else seems to be catching plenty of but is down 45% on our best year for them despite it being a record breaking year for every other warbler species we catch.
After having some time off work and going out ringing 12 consecutive mornings and ringing 2092 birds in the process which included 1197 Blackcap, 363 Chiffchaff and 211 House Martin, I'll be having tomorrow morning off before work again on Monday.
A good morning with 234 new, 8 retraps and 1 control but almost half of the catch we had on Wednesday. GD/PD/OF
Sparrowhawk 1, Swallow 12, House Martin 21, Tree Pipit 3, Meadow Pipit 3, Wren 2, Dunnock 2(1), Robin 6, Redstart 1, Song Thrush 3, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 5, Blackcap 99(7), Chiffchaff 71(1), Goldcrest
SWINDON STW