Hooray ringing will be taking place!

Please note that the ringing session programmed for Sunday 17th May will take place as a team will now be available.

Migrants on the move

The warmer and calmer weather of recent days had certainly encouraged many migrants to arrive along the coast of East Devon, particularly to the Axe Estuary Wetlands. Fortuitously the Group it had a session planned for the morning and members were not disappointed. Members of the public with their families enjoyed the opportunity to see birds close up.

A fine sample of species were caught amounting to 18 within a total of 41 birds. The highlights included a female Stonechat and a male Redstart, the latter a first for the Group. First Willow Warblers for us this year and three Cetti's Warblers, two females we ringed before and a new male which had been singing all morning in the reeds, close to where we were working. Who knows, will we this year have our first confirmed nesting pair. Let's hope so.

The total processed included:

Robin 4; Blackbird 2; Dunnock 3; Chaffinch 3; Wren 1; Great Tit 2; Great Spotted Woodpecker 2; Song Thrush 1; Bullfinch 1; Willow Warbler 3; Greenfinch 6; Cetti's Warbler 3; Stonechat 1; Blackcap 1; Redstart 1; Chiffchaff 3; Goldfinch 1; and Blue Tit 1.

We look forward to more exciting sessions in the near future.

The female Stonechat

A fine looking male Blackcap

The celebrity of the day a male Redstart

Not to be out done a bright coloured Greenfinch in breeding plumage

The male Cetti's Warbler

                                                      All photographs copyright Mike Tyler

Last duck catch of the winter

Today marked the first day of spring, but also the last cannon net duck catch for the Group until next winter. With only a small team and few birds the session was nearly cancelled. Although there were 20 Shelduck appearing in pairs on Seaton Marshes lagoon, we were able to catch half. One Mallard was also caught, but the surprise was a Little Egret, the second for the Group. 

Little Egret - Photo Mike Tyler

The team - photo Mike Tyler

Latest duck catch

The Group yesterday took a catch later in the day as an experiment to try and net more birds, as we had noticed that higher numbers descended onto the catching area later in the day. Even with fewer duck present, the test catch was considered reasonable with 13 birds caught, one being a Black-tailed Godwit just changing into summer plumage.

Depending on the weather and the number of duck present on the Axe Estuary, we will decide whether to take another catch in the middle of March.

Black-tailed Godwit showing early breeding plumage (Photo Mike Tyler)

Another nice catch

Unlike last year the colder weather has drawn several duck species to the Axe Estuary enabling the Group to make some useful catches. Shelduck have been using the site throughout the winter and many returning from previous years. How do we know? Well colour ringing since 2010 has proved ideal for confirming or otherwise of the same birds returning each year. So if you see any birds carrying a yellow ring containing two letters in black, as shown below, please let us know.

The catch of the weekend, included 19 Shelduck, 26 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 17 Mallard and one Black-tailed Godwit. Some of the Teal and Mallard were caught in two Abberton Traps we baited the night before. These birds helped to bring the total to 67.

Sample colour ring on Shelduck

Pair of Wigeon

Happy team of the day
(All photos - Mike Tyler)

A nice start to 2015

The weekend of 18th/19th January started the Group's new year with an attempt to catch wintering Chiffchaffs at the Borrow Pit on Seaton Marshes. Not quite as successful as hoped with only four Chiffchaffs with several others seen in the vicinity. Nevertheless 15 birds were caught, including a Water Rail in a prototype trap made by Group member Fraser Rush.

On the Sunday morning soon after daybreak a cannon net was fired over a small group of duck, which included a few waders. The catch comprised of one Teal, one Moorhen, 24 Shelduck and ten Black-tailed Godwits. The evening before two Abberton Traps were set at Colyford Common and surprisingly 12 birds were caught, which included  six Teal, two Moorhens and four Mallard. These traps helped to boost the numbers for ringing for both members and visitors. 

The Group's work on catching duck and waders over the years has drawn other ringers from as far away as Penzance, Falmouth, Bideford Portland and Weymouth. The Group feels really honoured that non-members are prepared to travel long distances so early in the  morning to meet our deadline of taking a catch.

A fine example of a female Teal (Photo Mike Tyler)

Christmas Bonus!

The Group held sessions on both last Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday mist netting session was programmed, but the cannon netting session the following morning was the first this winter, due to sheep grazing in November on the catching site. Once these woolly jumpers had been removed a start on our winter sessions of catching duck commenced in earnest.

Of the 135 birds caught over the weekend 75 presented us with a nice surprise on the Saturday, which included a Water Rail, two Cetti's Warblers, five Redwings, a Kingfisher and a Meadow Pipit. The Sunday also brought good results with 60 duck, including 28 Teal, 19 Shelduck and 13 Mallard. Not a bad weekend which certainly raised the spirits of both teams. A Christmas bonus!

One of the two Cetti's Warblers 

A fine looking Redwing

I am not trying to escape, just wondering when I get my ring

Male Teal in a duller winter plumage

Sunday's happy team

All photographs by Mike Tyler