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