The last cannon net catch of the season. Although many of the wintering wildfowl have left the Axe Valley for their breeding grounds, good numbers of Shelduck remain - a species the Axe Estuary Ringing Group are studying. At least 80 were feeding on the lagoon on Seaton Marshes on the morning of the catch.
Weather: always a murky haze, but above that blue skies and unbroken sunshine. No wind.
Only one species today;
23 Shelduck (19 retraps)
Although a high number of retraps, the new birds prove Shelduck are still arriving on the Axe Estuary (to breed?). Hopefully over time the colour-ringing program will show more about movements of Shelduck.
The Team - Stafford Marsh March '12 (c) Mike Tyler
Weather: always a murky haze, but above that blue skies and unbroken sunshine. No wind.
Only one species today;
23 Shelduck (19 retraps)
Although a high number of retraps, the new birds prove Shelduck are still arriving on the Axe Estuary (to breed?). Hopefully over time the colour-ringing program will show more about movements of Shelduck.
The Team - Stafford Marsh March '12 (c) Mike Tyler