Cannon Netting on Seaton Marshes - 26/2/12

A smaller than usual team for this cannon net catch, as can be seen from the group photo.

The team - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Mike Tyler

Weather: foggy start with a cool breeze, but soon cleared to give a warm and sunny, very spring-like day.

After the cannon net catch, once all 61 birds had been safely processed and released, the Abberton Traps on Colyford Common were set and provided the team with another 4 birds.

In total 65 birds of 4 species were processed;

58 Shelduck (43 retraps)
2 Mallard
2 Moorhen (retraps)
3 Black-tailed Godwit

So that's three more colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwits from the Axe Estuary, notice in all three photos the Axe Estuary yellow red yellow colour combination on the bird's right leg. For more details click HERE.

LOW (lime orange white) - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

YOW (yellow orange white) - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

GOW (green orange white) - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

This wasn't the only colour-ringing done in this session. The 15 un-ringed Shelducks needed colour-ringing too.

Shelduck colour-rings - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

With a smaller team, it meant for a change the A ringers had the chance to roll their sleeves up and do some ringing.

Terry ringing a young Shelduck - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Pete measuring a Shelduck's leg - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Job Done - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 25/2/12

This morning was a public demonstration session, part of the EDDC's Winter Bird Festival.

Throughout the morning a good number of onlookers watched the group process a small number of birds caught either through mist nets set on Stafford Marsh and Colyford Common, or the Abberton Traps on Colyford Common.

Weather: Dry but overcast, light west wind, very mild.

Only 4 new birds were ringed, but in total 18 birds of 8 species were processed;

4 Mallard (2 retraps)
4 Moorhen (all retraps)
2 Blackbird (retraps)
1 Dunnock (retrap)
1 Wren (retrap)
3 Blue Tit (2 retrap)
2 Long-tailed Tit (retraps)
1 Goldfinch

No pictures I'm afraid! Plenty more in the next post though I promise...

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 21/2/12

This seemed like the first mist netting session for a long while, although the five hours spent in the field may have shown why! Despite the good mist netting conditions, the total was poor.

Weather: Dry and mild, cloud cover varying from 30%-70%, light west wind though the odd noticeable breeze, good visibility.

Five nets were set in all, most along the Stafford Brook, with single mist nets also on Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh. Right from the start it did 'feel' quiet, but it is always worth a go - you just never know! Not long til the Spring now though...

11 birds of 8 species were processed;

2 Blackbird
1 Song Thrush
1 Robin (retrap)
1 Dunnock
1 Wren (retrap)
1 Long-tailed Tit
3 Greenfinch
1 Bullfinch

Bullfinch 5m - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Steve Waite

Wren wing (aged 6) - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Steve Waite

The rarest sight of the day, the blogger actually ringing a bird! - Stafford Marsh Feb '12 (c) Adrian Bayley