Summer bumper catch

Yesterday the Group held one of its regular mist netting sessions hoping catch any juvenile birds making their way over the marshes. The morning started very well with many birds in the nets, but this trend went on until after midday to the surprise and enjoyment of ringers present. The tally was a surprising 86 birds of 16 species, with only nine retraps, one of those a Reed Warbler from several years ago.

The species caught were: Robin 4; Dunnock 7; Goldfinch 6; Blue Tit 9; Great Tit 9; Kingfisher 3; Chaffinch 8; Chiffchaff 11; Cetti's Warbler 2; Blackbird 9; Reed Warbler 3; Blackcap 6; Wren 1; Goldcrest 1; Long-tailed Tit 6 and a surprise Treecreeper.

Recent catch and pulli update

The latest Group session took place yesterday and 35 birds were caught. It was decided to try a site at Colyford Common, not regularly used. This proved ideal and the following were caught:

Reed Warbler 8; Dunnock 2; Wren 3; House Sparrow 11; Whitethroat 1; Blue Tit 3; Robin 2; Long-tailed Tit 2; Blackbird 1; Greenfinch 1; and Blackcap 1, a nice selection.

So far this year 18 Great Tit pulli have been ringed, and 32 Blue Tits. Five Kestrel pulli also ringed.

Hopefully our next session on 8th June will be equally as good.

A busy weekend

Last Saturday and Sunday mornings the Group carried out ringing in the area of Colyford Common and caught 52 birds of various species. On the Saturday a faithful Reed Warbler returned to its breeding area, not an uncommon event for migrants ringed on the site.

The catch included: Robin 8; Long-tailed Tit 4; Song Thrush 1; Blue Tit 6; Reed Warbler 9; Wren 2; Chiffchaff 1; Greenfinch 7; Bullfinch 1; Blackcap 1; Dunnock 1; Great Tit 2; Goldfinch 4; Chaffinch 1; and Blackbird 4.

A few juveniles were caught, including Greenfinches and Robins.

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)