Cannon Netting Session, Feb 5th 2022

 First Cannon Netting Session since the Pandemic struck

After a two year hiatus, it was great to get back to cannon netting on the Axe, with a catch taken on Saturday morning.  13 hardy souls braved the freezing conditions to take a catch of 59 duck, comprising four species.

A welcome session for all, given the covid-enforced embargo, but particularly for the several trainees present, who gained valuable experience, ringing and aging four new species.

Thanks to all who attended, to those who helped to prepare the catch site by baiting and to those who helped to set the net.

Newly colour ringed shelduck.  We've been colour ringing this species for so long that some of the older birds have worn out their rings and so we've been re-ringing quite a few.

We're also now colour ringing wigeon.  Having started on the Otter Estuary several years ago, we have now migrated this work to the Axe.  The wigeon on the Otter remain inaccessible due to the ongoing work to restore that estuary to a fully tidal system.

A gorgeous male teal.  Nice to have a slightly more challenging species to age.