November 2016 - Redpoll at Chobham Common

221 new birds were ringed in November with most activity at Chobham Common. 70% (154) were Lesser Redpoll but the balance did include some nice species – the first Common Redpoll for over three years, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, 3 Dartfords and 7 Redwing at Chobham, a Firecrest at Bedfont, a Cetti’s Warbler and 4 Chiffchaff at Stanwellmoor and 2 Lesser Redpoll at Tythebarns.

More recoveries details of redpolls at Chobham were received and there was a very rapid return for a Chiffchaff from Wraysbury – close to the south coast just 21 hours after ringing.

Common Redpoll are noticeably larger than Lessers and with a proportion of white that looks like its been "washed" into their plumage.

Common Redpoll (Andrew Kingston)

Broad head of Common Redpoll (Andrew Kingston)

Rump of Common Redpoll (Andrew Kington)

October 2016 - Yellow-browed Warbler travels inland

A search for superlatives this month as a new species was added to the Group ringing list and we
achieved our highest ever October total.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Surrey (Carl Hunter Roach)

Chobham was the centre of attention with ringing on three days, two of which saw teams operating in two areas. 605 of the monthly total of 1,218 came from this site, including our first Yellow-browed Warbler on 22nd.

The 31 species included 9 warblers and was led by Lesser Redpoll on 379, Chiffchaff on 197 and Goldcrest on 184. Redwing surprised on 70 but Meadow Pipit were a little below expectations at 57; mainly due to lack of birds and time to target them.

Latest dates for summer migrants were Sedge Warbler on 9th; Lesser Whitethroat on 12th and Reed Warbler on 14th. Ringing details for some controls have already come through and of special interest is a Goldcrest ringed in Yorkshire and caught the same day as the Yellow-browed, giving a good indication of how, and how quickly, it could have reached Chobham.