Ian and Andy had a very early start, hoping to catch any migrating Nightjar that might be in the area. They were unlucky but Steph and I were particularly lucky because by the time we arrived at 6:00 virtually all of the nets were already set up and ready to go.
We were not as lucky as on our last visit. Unfortunately, it was quite breezy, which did limit the number of nets that could be set to the more sheltered parts. Shelter and Salisbury Plain do not really go together. The morning was quite cold and even the rising sun did not particularly warm the place up. However, it did make some of the nets extremely visible. We tried a simple two shelf net by the only water in the immediate area: a not too big puddle. This usually works as a magnet for birds looking for a drink or a wash – but not on this occasion.
The catch for the day was: Blue Tit 1; Tree Pipit 1; Wren 1(1); Dunnock 2; Robin 2; Song Thrush 2; Blackbird 1; Blackcap 4; Whitethroat 8. Totals 22 birds ringed from 9 species plus 1 recapture. All birds were juvenile except one each of the Wren, Whitethroat and Song Thrush.
The star bird of the session was the Tree Pipit:
The number of birds fell of dramatically very quickly and by 10:00 we were just watching empty nets. At 11:00 we gave it up as a bad job and took the nets down.
Ringing In The Braydon Forest & Beyond 