Last Duck catch of the Winter

Another winter has passed and the Group have enjoyed several sessions cannon-netting duck. Not just Shelduck our target species which we also colour-ring, but also Teal, Mallard and Wigeon. Moorhens, Black-tailed Godwits and Mute Swans were also caught as a side catch. So we hang-up our cannon-nets until November. At our last catch on Saturday 23rd March we caught 16 Shelduck. Fewer than at previous sessions, but they were probably on the move to their breeding sites.

The team at the last duck catch

Showing the Flag

The Group, as in previous years, took advantage of manning a display stand at Seaton Town Hall on 16th March, and gained support from many members of the public. The event was arranged by the Seaton Lions for charities in the community to take part.

Peter Bennett explaining our work to members of the public

                                   

23rd February to 1st March

The start of seven busy and very interesting days for the Group. On the 23rd we took part in the Winter Bird Festival organised by the Countryside Unit of East Devon District Council. Members of the public were fascinated seeing Shelduck, Mallard, Wigeon and Mute Swans being ringed. Our leader explained to a group of about 30 members of the Devon Wildlife Trust the reasons why we were ringing birds and placing colour rings on Shelduck. On 27th three days of filming with the BBC Countryfile Unit began culminating with an early catch of 38 Shelduck on 1st March. Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury joined us together with two excited camera teams filming the various aspects of ringing following a catch using cannon-nets. Later to release the last bird Matt Baker appeared to do the honours.

Julia and Matt with members of the catching team

AERG Back soon

Please note this blog will be back soon with updates on the activities of the Axe Estuary Ringing Group.

In the meantime, here's a photo of the team from the last cannon-netting session on 09.02.13.

A happy team

Colyford Common - 26/6/12

Today was the first session for a while at the top end of Colyford Common, in the reedbed and the crop field. It was a bit of a job transporting the kit up to the north end as there was no vehicle available for this session.

Ringing at the north end of Colyford Common - June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Weather; somewhat misty in the valley which cleared to give low cloud. This combined with little wind meant for pretty ideal mist netting conditions.

Without the luxury of the Field Studies Centre, it was back to basics for the team - no tables or chairs!

On the grass - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The long slog was certainly worthwhile, with 76 birds of 14 species caught, and only 10 retraps:

4 Blue Tit (1 retrap)
4 Blackcap
3 Sedge Warbler
14 Reed Warbler (3 retraps)
2 Wren (1 retrap)
6 Blackbird (1 retrap)
4 Song Thrush (2 retrap)
1 Robin
2 Dunnock (1 retrap)
11 House Sparrow
19 Greenfinch (1 retrap)
4 Goldfinch
1 Linnet
1 Reed Bunting

Several of these birds were (as expected) 3J's.

3J Reed Bunting - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

Of the adults caught, this Linnet was surely the smartest.

Male Linnet - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

But this Blue Tit was arguably the most interesting (from a ringer's perspective!) showing a feathering over brood patch and in active wing moult.

Blue Tit - Colyford Common June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

The team were unlucky to not catch a Sparrowhawk; a big female was in the net but escaped when the (would have been!) extractor was just a few paces away. You'll have to wear your running shoes next time Mike.

Shelduck KC; from Seaton to Seaton

Shelduck KC was ringed as a second year (aged 5) female on 29/1/12 at Seaton Marshes (click HERE for that ringing session's blog post). When it was ringed, little did we know it would give us one of our best Shelduck recoveries to date.

Shelduck KC - Stafford Marsh Jan '12 (c) Mike Tyler

On 18/6/12, Toby Collett the Assistant Warden at RSPB Saltholme, Cleveland, reported Shelduck KC on the Tees Marshes near Seaton Carew. That's a distance between ringing and re-sighting of approx 450km. Zoom out the map below to see a line drawn between the two sites.

View Shelduck KC in a larger map

Many thanks to Toby for taking the time to contact the group with this excellent re-sighting.

Colyford Common and Stafford Marsh - 12/6/12

Another ringing session based at the Fields Study Centre on Stafford Marsh. This location is ideal for interacting with the public.

The session leader showing how it's done - Stafford Marsh June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

32 birds of 10 birds were caught and processed;

2 Blue Tit
10 Great Tit (3 retraps)
2 Chiffchaff
3 Blackcap
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Wren (1 retrap)
2 Blackbird (retraps)
4 Robin
1 Dunnock (retrap)
1 Goldfinch

As expected for a ringing session at this time of year, several of the bird caught were aged 3J (recently fledged young). To be precise, 67% of the bird caught in this session were 3J's.

Wren, Blue Tit and Great Tit (all aged 3J) - Stafford Marsh June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley

There were plenty of other young birds visible in the vicinity too...

Mallard and Shelduck families - Black Hole Marsh June '12 (c) Adrian Bayley