Day 2 – Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve

My second day of data collection for bird species richness across Reading took place in Madien Erlegh Nature reserve, not surprisingly in Earley Reading. The Reserve sits in the heart of a residential area, surrounded on all sides by housing. The reserve consists of ancient and secondary woodland, grassland, a lake and surrounding wetland habitat. The reserve is monitored and managed by the Earley town council, and it uses traditional woodland management techniques such as coppicing. It is 14.1 aces in size, compared to the campus wilderness 12 acres, but the woodland is much denser and with less footpaths running through, meaning the birds had a better chance of hiding from me!

In total, I managed to identify 11 bird species whilst surveying, and a further 6 from the voice recorder, including again a nesting pair of Sparrowhawks much like on campus, and also heard a Spotted Flycatcher, which are common summer visitors to the region. In alphabetical order, the birds surveyed at Madien Erlegh were:

  • Blackbird (Turdus merula)
  • Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
  • Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)
  • Carrion Crow (Corvus corone corone)
  • Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
  • Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
  • Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
  • Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  • House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
  • Jay (Garrulua glandarius)
  • Long Tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
  • Magpie (Pica pica)
  • Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
  • Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
  • Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
  • Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
  • Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Also, this little beauty was spotted, but alas I have no clue what it is! Any ideas?

Any Ideas?

About Thomas Whitlock

I'm a third student at the University of Reading, currently studied for a degree in Zoology. I have a wide interest in biodiversity, most notably British wildlife. I have an especial interest in British mammals and birds. I hope to become a wildlife cameraman or photographer after I graduate, and I feel that blogging will be a key component of any future job in Zoology. This is my first blog, so please be kind!
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