March 2014

With many sites saturated and very muddy it took some opportunistic ringing to reach 279 new birds (154 Runnymede RG; 125 Maple Cross RG) of 31 species. The species quality was high with  pride of place going to 2 Woodlarks at Chobham. Whilst not new to the Group species  list – pulli were ringed in 1986 and 1988 – these are the first full-grown birds to appear. 

Woodpecker box

Complementing these, a Skylark was ringed at Woolley Firs and 14 Meadow Pipits (3 Stanwellmoor; 11 Wooley Firs). A Snipe was testimony to the dampness at Stanwellmoor and a Yellowhammer at Woolley Firs took the winters total there to 12. Other nice species handled were Redwing at Hilfield and Woolley Firs with 6 Dartford Warbler and a Common Redpoll at Chobham. 

Southerly winds early in the month brought in some warblers with 9 Blackcap and the top total for the month – 34 Chiffchaff (15 Bedfont and 10 Hilfield).

A Woolley Firs nest boxes were repaired and additional boxes added including a Great Spotted Woodpecked box.