Redwings and firecrest

While Richard and Wendy are away ringing in Costa Rica, Karen and Dawn undertook their first 'solo' ringing session in the Teifi Marshes. Once we'd figured out how to use 'repeat' on the MP3 player we were delighted with 5 Redwing in the evening and another 3 in the morning. Also caught were a Song Thrush and a continental style Blackbird.

On our second attempt we only managed 1 Redwing after putting the nets up ready for the following morning only to be defeated by the rain. This morning we tried again with 1 more Redwing, 4 Goldcrest and a Firecrest!

If it ever stops raining before Wendy returns who knows what we may find............

A Royal Flycatcher before more rain

As we write this, 137mm rain recorded in the last 12 hours!
Yes, it is the rainy season in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, one of the wettest places in the world.
Between the downpours we have managed plenty of banding at three different sites so far. In our first session  we caught a White-eyed Vireo, only the 3rd record for Costa Rica.
And then this......

A Royal Flycatcher, a difficult species for birders to find let alone a performing male in the hand.
We are here to capture and study  resident birds to further the knowledge of moult etc. Like the Vireo, North American migrants form the majority of captures eg four species of North American thrushes in  one session.
Whilst helping with Shorebird counts and general migration monitoring various other species which according to literature are excellent for the Caribbean coast include Black Skimmers, Franklin's Gulls and Yellow-throated and Palm Warblers.
Our last day tomorrow in the Caribbean lowland tropical rain forest before heading to the central mountains for a whole new range of species - and weather!
(Rich and Wendy)