Mist netting 12/6/23 (slightly late!)

A small contingent of members undertook a mist net session in and around the crop field on 12^th June. We caught 31 birds of 14 species. A number of birds were juveniles and it was useful to examine the plumage and feather condition of these known age individuals.

This 3J greenfinch shows the striated breast and the markedly pointed tail typical of a juvenile.

This robin is in pin (age code 3JP) and the juvenile feathers are being replaced with those typical of adults. The yellowish tinge to the outer edge of the greater coverts is typical of juveniles. 

This very streaky & speckled stonechat is another 3J bird. The pointed shape at the ends of the dark central marks on it’s tail are also juvenile features.

After the ringing session was over we were delighted to watch the first sand martin investigating an artificial burrow in the wall near the Discovery Hut. 

Robin Pearson

Mist netting 13/7/23

A team of four members set five mist nets at the Colyford Common end of the reserve. As usual, we set up base on the viewing platform, where a new member received some training on taking wing measurements as passegers passed by on the Seaton Tramway. 

It was a busy & interesting morning, as we caught 41 birds of 15 species, most of which were this year's youngsters. Only one bird previously ringed was re-trapped, a Blue Tit ringed on 19/8/22. 

The one Blackbird we caught was a male, as shown by the yellow bill and eye-ring, and the dark plumage. The bird had started its post-breeding moult, having replaced several of the old faded feathers with new black ones. It will continue moulting until it has replaced all of its old feathers, a process which will take about two months in total. 

The yellow eye-ring & bill, and dark plumage,  show this is a male Blackbird

The Blackbird had started its main moult, with one Primary feather already almost full length and another growing. The Primary Coverts, above the large flight feathers, will be replaced at the same time.

It was nice to catch two Linnets, a bird not often caught on the Wetlands, with only five having been caught in the last decade. Both birds had been hatched this year and had yet to start their post-juvenile moult, so maybe they had been hatched on site or at least nearby.

Juvenile Linnet

The amount of white on the inner four Primary feathers can be used to sex a Linnet. Although the white does not reach the shaft on this bird, there is only a small gap, so this is probably a male. 

	Ringed	Re-trapped
Blackbird	1
Blackcap	1
Blue Tit	8	1
Cetti’s Warbler	1
Chaffinch	3
Chiffchaff	3
Goldfinch	2
Great Tit	1
Greenfinch	6
House Sparrow	5
Linnet	2
Long-tailed Tit	2
Reed Warbler	2
Song Thrush	2
Wren	1
	40	1