With the weather forecast to get extremely hot by midday, reaching 30oC, I decided that a short session at Ravensroost Meadows would be sensible. I was joined by Miranda, Rosie (and Polly, her Cocker Spaniel), and then Laura and Adam. Adam with his last day of freedom before back to school! We met at 6:30 and set the following nets:
To be honest, I had not expected the area around the pond to be as horribly overgrown as it was. Last time I was there the vegetation was very open. Miranda was an absolute trooper: she took one of my slashers and cut a path to the 12m ride and then cleared the ride itself, whilst Rosie and I and then Laura and Adam set the other nets. For them we merely trampled down the vegetation, which was predominantly Common Fleabane, Pulicaria dysenterica. The dog-leg was set on the off-chance that we could catch some Swallows or House Martins coming in to drink. I put on a lure and we crossed our fingers. Unfortunately, we were unlucky and, despite there being sizeable flocks of both species flying around all morning, one felt the need to come down to drink. Perhaps the hot weather has prompted the insect life to move to higher strata.
The plan was to shut the nets at 11:00 and take down and be off-site before midday, which we managed. We had a reasonable, but small, catch of mainly Chiffchaff and Blackcap, as follows: Wren 2; Dunnock 2; Robin 2; Blackbird 1; Blackcap 6; Chiffchaff 8; Goldfinch 2. Totals: 23 juveniles ringed from 7 species.
The Goldfinch were the highlights: although I catch plenty in my garden, over the years I have caught just 18 by the meadow pond, and the last were caught two-and-a-half years ago. These were, therefore, the first that Rosie and Miranda have processed at the pond, although both have done them elsewhere (Rosie: one at Brown’s Farm and Miranda: two at Blakehill Farm).
As well as the catch and the multiple Swallows and House Martins, we had decent views of both Buzzard and Red Kite circling in the thermals over Ravensroost Wood. Apart from them, and a bit of both Magpie and Jay movement and calling, there was very little other bird movement.
Ringing In The Braydon Forest & Beyond 