March - mainly Snipe, Siskin and the Pennorth feeders

With a decent forecast, Peter and Alan J visited on Tuesday 5th March to finish off the management work in our scrub (CES) area. A proportion of shrubs are cut annually in order to maintain a consistent structure through the years - as shrubs that increase in height/density will affect the breeding habitat and likely influence the species and numbers of birds caught. After they finished the work they checked the point field (with the thermal) now that the flood level had dropped. Although it was still nearing "welly height" in places, there were still decent numbers of Snipe present. A couple of nets were set just before dusk, which resulted in 2 Jack Snipe and 2 Snipe caught, and a much better idea of where to place the nets for another attempt. It may not sound like a big catch, but it represents 10% of LRGp's Jack Snipe all time total, and our first since 2005. The most that have ever been ringed in a year have been 4 in 1988 and 3 in 2004. With next winter still to come, there is a good chance of becoming our best year for Jack Snipe. Overall Snipe numbers were still good in the point field (despite the deep flooding), with most birds now in the flooded hard rush areas.

With another calm day on Monday 11th, Peter Alan J and Andy tried again but it was underwhelming in terms of the catch, just a single Reed Bunting while setting. Nets were mainly in the same positions as on 5th, with an extra location. The birds were feeding in good numbers around the nets but were seen to avoid them when flying. Reasons for the avoidance were not clear, as this wasn't apparent on 5th. The water level had considerably reduced between the sessions (maybe making different parts of the field preferable), and there may have been different light levels making the thicker material "Spidertec" nets, which were exclusively used this time, more visible. On the previous visit, the birds that were caught, were caught in a "Jap" net. One bonus was a Barn Owl hunting the point field, which even landed on a mist net pole at one point.

On Monday 18th, Andy and Jerry had an invitation to a Brecon garden to net at the feeders. With the well stocked scrub beds and other garden structures, there was only just enough room to fit in a 6m net, but the well stocked feeders had a good number of Siskin visiting (and a bonus of not a single "tit" seen). Towards late morning it became quieter as the birds moved off after their morning feed, but still a productive couple of hours (with the net limitations) The catch of 25 was made up of Blackbird 2, Goldfinch 1, and Siskin 21. Peter, Alan J and Andy visited the Lake for Snipe in the evening, but catching remained frustrating. The nets were set in the similar places (though had to be varied slightly due to the dropping water level) but the wind got up just before dusk (the opposite of what was forecast). Total catch was 4 birds - 3 Starling (still a small roost at the lake) and 1 Reed Bunting (seen to fly from it's presumably lonesome Juncus roost site) into a net. The total for the day was 29 ringed. At least 4 Snipe escaped from the Jap nets - despite being caught, the gusting wind opened the pockets. There was a strong moon (presumably making the Starling later than last time), their extraction and the extra light presumably also disrupting the Snipe attempt. There are still a lot of Snipe (75+) in the field, plus a Barn Owl and Lapwing were flying after dark (also 100+ Sand Martin feeding over the flood for the couple of hours before dusk). Finally there were good thermal views of a Hare (at least it's head!) who must have had wet feet as it fed amongst the Juncus of the point field. We can be fairly sure that this will be the final attempt for this winter, but an awful lot has been learnt for next autumn/winter which will hopefully put us in good stead.

It was the a return to generally poor weather in the run up to the month's end, but Saturday 30th was dry/calm and Andy opted to try netting the Pennorth feeders again. Although the WRP period had ended, finch numbers had improved while those of Blue Tit had reduced. The catch of 26 + (5) was made up of Great-spotted Woodpecker (2), Dunnock (2), Blue Tit 3, Nuthatch (1), Chaffinch 3, Goldfinch 8, Greenfinch 7 and Siskin 5. This almost doubled the number ringed during March to 60 birds, well above our recent 10 year average.