Autumn waders Colyford Marsh

Last night was the first of two wader ringing sessions arranged for this autumn. The site of Colyford Marsh is very difficult to work with heavy mud, which is covered at hide tides. So care needs to be taken, not just for the birds. The number of waders frequenting the site at night to feed and roost can vary considerably, but only a few have ever been netted for ringing at any session. Last evening was no exception with a Teal and seven waders caught. These were: Common Snipe 1; Dunlin 4; and Whimbrel 2. The latter were both juveniles.

1. One of the juvenile Whimbrels 

2. Common Snipe

3. First year male Dunlin

Photographs 1 Allan Reese 2 & 3 Mike Tyler

Corvid visitor

Yesterday the Group were holding a scheduled ringing demonstration when it caught a Magpie as well as other smaller birds, including Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. The Magpie was one rarely caught on the Wetlands.

Juvenile Magpie

Photograph Miriam Guard 

A charm of Goldfinches

After the mist cleared the birds began to emerge to feed at Colyton Common. The Group were kept busy extracting and processing 70 birds of 14 species. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Reed Warblers, a Whitethroat, and a Sedge Warbler were the order of migrants for the day.

The highlight were a flock of more than 40 Goldfinches teasing us, of which 21 eventually were caught. A good number for the Wetlands.

Juvenile Blackcap

Juvenile Whitethroat

Photographs Mike Tyler

Urgent Notice

Please note, due to matters outside our control the session programmed for Saturday 10th August is cancelled.

Mike Tyler
Leader

Colyford Common

Today the Group decided for the first time this year to erect a few nets at Colyford Common which is somewhat exposed to windy conditions, so a short session took place. Fourteen birds were caught of six species the Whitethroat being the highlight of the morning. Six juvenile Reed Warblers were included in the total with one Blackcap.

Natural Seaton Festival

For several years now the Natural Seaton Festival has taken place. The Group have been fortunate to set its display at this Festival last Saturday outlining why we ring birds and displaying maps showing where the birds we ringed have migrated to and of their return. This was specific in relation to colour ringing wildfowl and waders.  

Fortunately the weather was good and we had many enquiries about the Group and questions of our conservation work. This year we were able to show two large cabinets of bird skulls collected by our Leader over more than fifty years. These certainly drew the attention of both children and adults.

To take part in these festivals and shows enables us to explain our work  and why bird ringing is an important conservation tool.

Good numbers this time

The catch this morning included 88 birds of 17 species. Good numbers of Blackcaps and Reed Warblers as well as the usual species, including nine Dunnocks, eight Blue Tits and eight Goldfinches. As expected the majority were juveniles.