Thursday 20 July 2017

Beddington Farm - A First in the nets!


Banding days at the Farm have been busy of late with numerous juvenile birds dispersing. Cetti’s Warbler is one species that has flourished with the change in lakeside habitat. To think that over five years ago this species was considered a MEGA at the Farm. Today we had four birds in the nets which indicate a healthy population.
The lack of eye stripe one of the features of a juvenile bird.

The first record was on 100 Acre on April 5th 2002. My first sighting of this species was on October 10th 2009. This at the time was the 2nd record found by John Allan by the hide on the North Lake.

Today the weather suggested the day would be more productive than it turned out but there was a steady flow of birds with the best saved until last.
Just as Frank, Mike and I were beginning to close up for the day a juvenile Magpie landed in a net on the South Lake. Magpies are common birds in England so what was the big deal. This bird was a first in the nets for Beddington Farm. The bird was processed by Frank and released.

What a great end to the morning!

REF: The Birds of Beddington Farmlands by Alfrey,Milne, Coleman and the BFBG. Beddintgon Farmlands Bird and Wildlife Report 2012.

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