Long Weekend

Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday 8th - 12th November was a very busy time for the Group, especially as our first cannon-net catch of the winter took place. Friday evening was our wader night, although not that successful did result in three birds, a Common and a Jack Snipe and one Curlew. The Sunday morning catch included, Black-tailed Godwits and Wigeon followed on the Tuesday with many passarines, a Sparrowhawk and a Kingfisher. Over the whole period 72 birds were caught and processed.

What a pair:Jack Snipe and Common Snipe (Photo Mike Tyler)

A hive of activity processing the cannon-net catch (Photo Adrian Bayley)

Come on Catharine it will not bite! (Photo Adrian Bayley)

Peter giving this bird a though check (Photo Adrian Bayley)

A lovely Grey Wagtail (Photo Adrian Bayley)

Nice surprises

Today at a public demonstration few birds were caught but two nice surprises for those who waited until later in the morning. After the usual local species a Kestrel and Kingfisher were caught which completed the morning's nice close-ups.

Adult male Kestrel (Photo Richard Austin)

That's an unusual fish! (Photo Richard Austin)

Erecting mist nets at dawn (Photo Richard Austin)

Dark evening wader catch

Our first after dark wader catch this year was a reasonable success with nine birds. One Black-tailed Godwit and eight Curlew.

Setting the nets in sticky gooey mud! (Photograph Adrian Bayley)

Careful extraction of a Black-tailed Godwit with carrying box at the ready
(Photograph Adrian Bayley)

Note the longer bill of the female Curlew (Photograph Mike Tyler)

More nice catches

An early morning session yesterday, before the rains came resulted in a few birds caught, including the two interesting species for the Axe Estuary Wetlands photographed below.

Lesser Whitethroat (Copyright Adrian Bayley)

Juvenile male Sparrowhawk (Copyright Adrian Bayley)

Bittern restricts bird ringers

The arrival of a Bittern yesterday , a local rarity, curtailed the plan of the Group to erect nets in a reed bed opposite where the Bittern could be seen on the other side of the River Axe. To ensure good relations with birdwatchers and the public, as well as safeguarding the reputation of the Group, the proposed netting of Swallows at roost was cancelled should our actions disturb the Bittern. 

Not all was lost, nets were erected elsewhere and during darkness the Group were given a nice surprise when a Jack Snipe was caught. The second for the Group, the last caught in October 2008. Despite the disappointment of not being able to net Swallows the extra effort was certainly worthwhile.

The sheer elegance of the Jack Snipe

Lovely plumage markings

Nice surprise!

Our general mist netting session on Saturday 7th September produced a nice surprise for the Group. Among the warblers and other species caught a Common Snipe was netted, the first wader for the Group this autumn. Nice photograph below.

Copyright Kate Cheetham

Active weekends

The last two weekends have been active periods for the Group starting on Fridays and covering the Saturdays and one Sunday. The latter session was at the East Devon District Council's Wet and Wild Weekend, a public event at which various wildlife events took place. Despite bad weather during the last weekend 18 birds were caught and processed. The total for both weekends came to 98 captures. 

The total comprised of good numbers of migrants, including Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats, even a Kingfisher. Certainly species one would expect to catch at a wetland site at this time of the year. The Group's next long weekend will start on 6th September. It is also planning some wader catches during September and October. Watch this space for the results of those hopeful catches.

A few photos of recent activities.

A relaxed juvenile Whitethroat (photo Mike Tyler)

A hive of activity! (Photo Adrian Bailey)

What is this? A family outing! (Photo Adrian Bayley)

Another poser (Photo Adrian Bayley)