Chalton STW 17 February 2013

The first real session here of the year produced 21 birds of 8 species.
Ringed with retraps in brackets are as follows:

Blackbird 1(1), Dunnock 1(0), Great Tit 2(0), Kingfisher 1(0), Long-tailed Tit 8(1), Pied Wagtail 1(0), Reed Bunting 4(0), Wren 1(0).

Also on site was 11 cormorant first thing and 2 little Egret.

The beginning of the year has seen work started on the removal of typha and willow from the pond area. Hopefully, this will be a large improvement when complete.

Chalton STW 12th February 2011

Despite all odds we managed a session at the site adding a new specie ringed.

A duck trap is now in operation and, although not much has been caught at present ( 1 mallard and a coot)it still meant that they were new species ringed on site. We look forward to better times to come.

Species caught were ringed(retrapped)

Mute Swan 2/0
Coot 1/0
Wren 1/0
Robin 1/0
Goldcrest 2/0
Long-tailed Tit 1/6
Blue Tit 10/4
Great Tit 2/13
Chaffinch 1/1

Chalton STW 30th January 2011

Only Mike, Roy and myself were present, but, not expecting too much as the feeding station had been moved yesterday. This is because National Grid are carrying out work to cables in the vicinity of the previous site.

However, 27 birds were caught of 8 species. Ringed(retrapped)

Blackbird 1(0)
Blue Tit 4(2)
Great Tit 2(4)
Grey Wagtail 2(0)
Mallard 1(0)
Pied Wagtail 4(0)
Robin 1(0)
Wren 0(1)

The Mallard is the first for the site. One of the Great Tits was ringed 13/11/2005 and another was a pullus of last year.

Chalton STW 23 January 2011

A slightly damp start but didn't do too bad for our first visit of 2011. A Green Sandpiper was heard calling on arrival.

24 birds caught of 8 species. ringed(retrap)

Blue Tit 4(2)
Great Tit 3(7)
Carrion Crow 1(0)
Chaffinch 1(0)
Dunnock 2(1)
Long-tailed Tit 0(1)
Magpie 1(0)
Robin 0(1)

Chalton - summer results

Below is the final count from the Constant Effort Survey at the sewage treatment works; adults first, followed by birds of the year. This is the number of individual birds (new or re-traps from other years) and makes no account of their subsequent re-capture during this year's fieldwork. The works are situated adjacent to the M1 motorway, close to Toddington service station.
Moorhen 1 + 0
Wood Pigeon 0 + 2
Kingfisher 1 + 1
Barn Swallow 4 + 0
Wren 5 + 10
Dunnock 6 + 4
Robin 4 + 7
Blackbird 6 + 1
Song Thrush 1 + 0
Sedge Warbler 20 + 13
Reed Warbler 29 + 28
C.Whitethroat 13 + 12
Garden Warbler 1 + 1
Blackcap 8 + 9
Chiffchaff 4 + 29
Willow Warbler 0 + 1
Long-tailed Tit 5 + 20
Blue Tit 6 + 17
Great Tit 2 + 14
C. Crow 1 + 0
Starling 4 + 0
Greenfinch 0 + 2
Bullfinch 1 + 3
Reed Bunting 6 + 1
128 Adults & 170 juveniles [ 2009 = 111 adults & 188 juveniles)

Stockgrove CP 21/03/2010

Joined by Mike, Roy, Sue and Toni we had quite a good day. Plenty of people about and good for PR.

35 birds were caught of 8 species which included 18new and (17 retraps):

Wren 0-(1)
Blabi 1-(1)
Marti 0-(2)
Coati 0-(1)
Bluti 5-(3)
Greti 10-(7) 1 of which was 4yrs 143days
Nutha 1-(1)
Chaff 1-(0)

Chalton STW 07/03/2010

Was joined by Roy, Toni and Sue and had a total of 31 birds (10 new & 21 retraps ) as follows:
Lotti 2 (5), Bluti 1 (6), Dunno 0 (1), Robin 0 (6),
Greti 2 (2), Blabi 2 (1), Chiff 2 , Wren 1.

Also had 2 Green Sandpiper fly-overs - unfortunatly, they kept going.
Still no news on the pending work to be done under the power line but was informed that they hope to complete before the end of March/early April. Here's hoping!!!

Chalton bummer

The HV electricity pylons are sinking!
And the HV lines 'sag' even more in hot weather - up to six foot, apparently.
So, what are they going to do?
Dig a 2 metre deep trench under the power lines that pass across the site. Health and Safety.

Meantime, the locks have been changed, denying anyone access to the tertiary filtration area where we ring.
Boo hoo!

However, we should be back in in time for the start of the CES season.
Fingers crossed.

Chalton STW 17/01/2010

A good turnout today with 6 members present in the form of Mike, Roy, Sue, Toni, Paul and myself. With the nets up at 8am we ringed through until 13:30.

A Green Sandpiper put in a brief appearance though not in the net and also a kingfisher was seen over the lagoons. Ducks present were Mallard 126, Little Grebe 4, Coot 4, Tufted Duck 24, Gadwall 23, ingfisher 1, Moorhen 4, Teal 2 and wigeon 3. Seemed strange that there was a shortage of coot and moorhen.

A total of 35 were caught consisting of 20 new/15 retraps as follows:
Greti 3/6, Robin 2/2, Bluti 7/2, Lotti 3/4, Dunno 0/1, Chaff 4/0 and Redwi 1/0 .
The electricity isn't connected yet, hopefully for next time.

10th day of Xmas

Quite a gathering of the clans at Chalton today. Repositioned feeding station attracted quite a few birds; a pity the majority were retraps but the new trainee, Roy, was pleased to get his eye in with them. Up near the offices, three nets fared a little better.

Graham set about finishing off the lining of the hut, ready for site staff to fix up the electrics (= light, heat and hot water). Mike was sent off to undo some (disused) gratings that we want to string across a ditch to allow the mower across.

Total catch for the session was 56 of which just 26 were new birds. Altogether, we handled 11 species.

Redwing - showing hut lining in the background!

Grey Wag 1, Pied Wag 3, Wren (1), Dunnock (2), Robin 5 (8), Blackie 5, Redwing 4, Blue Tit 3 (5), Gt Tit 4 (18), Chaffinch (1) & Greenfinch 1.

Just the one 2CY Redwing, an all too familiar trait this winter. The Robins were very variable, both in size (allowing for sex differences) and weights. Perhaps a few (long-winged) migrants mixed in with the locals.

Chalton STW 28/12/2009

Well, Mike, Roy, Sue and myself had the last bash for 2009 here, Very successful with 66 birds caught (36 ringed and 30 retraps ). These are as follows:
Dunno 1/3, Chaff 3/2, Greti 7/16, Robin 2/5, Bluti 5/4, Lotti 9/0, Grefi 1/0, Blabi 3/0 and Redwi 5/0.

A number of plans have been made for 2010 in the form of improving the site. Hopefully these will materialise during the coming months. If there are any volunteers that may wish to lend a hand, please get in touch. A report is being composed for Anglian Water regarding these proposals.

Chalton STW 5th Dec

A session there this weekend proved quite fruitful. I was joined by Roy and Sabrina and managed to cover the feeding station and the office area, which are a good way apart.
50 birds were taken of 7 species (ringed/retrapped). Bluti 9/7, Greti 16/3, Chaff 7/1 ( this being first ringed on 2/7/2006), Wren 2/0, Bullfinch 1/0, Robin 3/0 and Grefi 1/0. We did try for the piewa and grewa but no luck on that front this time.

The shed (aka Ringing Hut) is still standing and so is the old shed that we moved, surprisingly enough. I am waiting to hear about the panelling and, once obtained, we will be able to get that fixed and then be able to reconnect the electricity.

Chalton STW Sat 7th November

Well, while you lucky people in the North of the county were out ringing and enjoying yourselves, A band of volunteers joined me at Chalton for the long awaited erection. Yes, the new ringing hut is up. It took most of the day and a lot of hard graft.




First the old hut had to be emptied and moved so that we could use the sleepers it was resting on.





The electric cable had to be redirectd to the new hut.




And the new hut erected


My Thanks go to Mike Reed, Roy Ingram, Brendon Toms, Kieran Ray for their hard work and Maureen Buss for keeping all stocked with bacon and sausage rolls, pastries, tea and coffee.

CES V.12 - 23rd August

CHALTON: - A very disappointing end session with only 9 birds of 6 species. These consisted of 2 ad. 6 juv's and 1 retrap as follows:

Wren 1/0/1, Chiff 1/1/0, Blaca 0/2/0, robin 0/1/0, Reewa 0/1/0, Grefi 0/1/0.

We needed a bit of exposed mud round the edge of the typha pond - so we sent the girls in!!

Chalton, CES11 - 9th August

The same tally as last week - 41 birds of 14 spp - but with a different make-up. The only new adult was a Chiff.

Namely - Wren 5/1, Dunno 2/3, Robin 0/1, Sonth 1/0, Sedwa 6/0, Reewa 4/0, Garwa 1/0, Blaca 2/0, Chiff 3/0, Lotti 2/1, Bluti 2/3, Greti 1/1, Treec 2/0.

The switch around in the warblers was very noticeable and the Treecreepers were an added bonus.

Minus the driver!

Graham wizzed round on the new (s/h) ride-on mower we bought for this site in just over an hour to keep the extensive system of rides and linking paths open. We still haven't got the cheapo strimmer going for lack of a bit of pipe. He also prepared the short flower meadow by close cutting a patch ready for the Mipits where we will employ all three tactics - mist net cage, spring traps & whoosh net.

Chalton STW - CES V10, 2nd August

Moderate capture of 41 of 14 species, the majority being juveniles. The session ended up with the following ad/juv/r-t :

Wren 0/2/1, Dunno 0/2/0, Robin 0/2/0, Blabi 0/1/1, Sonth 0/0/1, Sedwa 0/0/1, Reewa 0/4/1C, White 0/4/0, Garwa 0/1/0, Chiff 0/5/0, Wilwa 0/1/0, Lotti 4/2, Bluti 0/2/3, Greti 0/3/0,

However, being a moderate catch, Sue made up for it by the discovery of a Broad-leaved Helleborine var. alba. According to Chris Boon, the plant recorder for Beds, this is the first time that this var. has been seen/recorded in Beds. Photo will follow, though the plant is beginning to go over now.

More weekend CES's

Guy & Co. did the Thorns and realised 31 birds as follows (all bar 2 were juvvies):
Grewo 1/0, Wren 0/1, Dunno 4/0, Robin 0/1, Blabi 0/1, White 1/1, Garwa 2/0, Blaca 3/0, Chiff 5/0, Wilwa 1/0, Bluti 1/0. Greti 2/0, Treec 1/0, Chaff 5/0, Bullf 1/0.

Graham & Co. did the new Chalton site in windier conditions but managed 21 as follows (no other details): Magpi 1, Wren 2, Dunno 4, Robin 2, Sedwa 2, Reewa 3, White 2, Blaca 1, Chiff 3, Greti 1.

We're hunting around for a base for the new shed, which, when erected, will be the ringing hut, the other two huts then being used for storing ringing equipment and, in the more secure one, site maintenance tools. If only all our sites were this secure, if only to provide cover in poor weather!.

CES visit7 - Chalton 28/06

A decent day today at the sewage works with a total of 46 birds (33 new ones) of 13 species.

[Adult/Juv/r-t]: Wren 0/3/0, Dunno 0/0/1, Robin 0/2/0, Sedwa 0/7/2, Reewa 1/0/4, White 1/3/1, Blaca 0/5/0, Chiff 0/5/1, Lotti 2/0/0, Bluti 0/1/1, Greti 0/2/2, Goldf 1/0/0, Reebu 0/0/1.

Surprising there wer'n't any juv Reed Warblers - they are on the wing at other local sites. Being more open to the winds, perhaps breeding is put back a little?

Chalton CES visit6 - 21/06

A very good morning at the STW. Using 280' of full height and 120' of 2-shelf, the haul was 68 birds consisting of 20 new adults, 42 new juveniles and 6 re-traps.

[Ad/juv/r-t] Kingf 1/0/0, Wren 0/2/0, Dunno 3/3/1, Robin 0/4/0, Blabi 1/0/0, Sedwa 1/1/2, Reewa 3/0/1, White 1/6/2, Blaca 2/5/0, Chiff 0/1/0, Bluti 0/5/0, Greti 1/14/0, Goldf 5/0/0, Reebu 2/1/0.

We played host to German ringer and post-graduate student, Sabrina Weitekamp, a welcome assistant. The more unusual moths are in a seperate post below.

Chalton STW - Mothing 20/06

At the kind invitation of Graham Buss we ran two lights at Chalton STW for 2.5 hours last night and despite it getting dark so late and being rather cold we are pleased to report that we caught 3 Obscure Wainscots so it looks like we have a little population there. This is a new record for VC30 (Beds).



In addition, a Southern Wainscot also came to the light which adds another county site for this species. Out of 6 Oligias taken 2 were Marbled, 1 Rufous and 3 Tawny Marbled - the first time we have had all three at one site on the same night - all were dissected.

Other niceties were 3 male Ghost Moths, 1 Lime Hawk, Cream-bordered Green-pea, a pristine July Highflyer and the pyralid Chilo phragmitella.

Cheers - Andy & Melissa Banthorpe, vc30moths.