Potter trap mechanisation, wandering birds and S4C

With the present windy weather preventing the use of mist nets, inventions are the order of the day. The Potter traps triggered by the bird were failing to catch so now the door is closed by a latch drawn back from the warmth of the kitchen via fishing line - it works!

 

 

 Further improvements are currently underway to enable closing the door by remote control!

 The proof of movement between mine and Richards garden 4 miles away is being reinforced with another 5 of his Siskins caught in mine and one of my Goldfinches caught in his. The good Brambling year continues - having never seen one in the garden before, we have now ringed 9 with just a 3 metre net.

This Pied Wagtail with a ring was down on the beach at Ceibwr yesterday. The end numbers could be made out so by entering **6717 in IPMR a Pied Wagtail was listed as ringed on the Teifi Marsh on 20th October last year. Although we can't be sure without seeing the whole sequence it seems a high probability.

 

The end numbers could be made out so by entering **6717 in IPMR a Pied Wagtail was listed as ringed on the Teifi Marsh on 20th October last year. Although we can't be sure without seeing the whole sequence it seems a high probability.  

 

 Also yesterday, Tommy saw this Chiff on the reserve. With an EAH ring it is highly likely to be one of our own Chiffs returning back. 

We have ringed 274 Chiffchaffs with EAH  rings since 6th August 2011 with 119 of those during peak Autumn passage last September.

Finally don't forget to watch the new S4C series Natur:Y Gwanwyn  starting tonight at 20.25. Cameras were in the garden filming last week with Kelvin Jones from BTO Cymru and Bethan, our latest trainee.