Batteries are charged for winter ringing....

It is that time of year when our ringing becomes more nocturnal.
For several years we have walked lowland sheep pasture at night to catch and ring Woodcock, contributing to the long-running research of The Woodcock Network
Other species which roost on the fields are also caught. Our first night out this week and it was good to see Golden Plover back in their usual fields

Also Fieldfare which have just started to be seen again in the hedges, stripping the Hawthorns of berries.

This evening at dusk we had some nets open on the Teifi Marsh to see what came into roost. At 4pm many thousands of Starlings put on a fantastic aerial display over the reserve and went to roost in the reed bed by Kingfisher hide.
A few were caught

A picture doesn't do justice to their glossy sheen and intricate markings.

 We also ringed some Blackbirds, Redwings and this Sparrowhawk

As we left the reserve a Tawny Owl and Water Rails were calling and the thousands of Starlings in the reed bed could still be heard chattering.
A chilly start tomorrow but at least the forecast is for less wind than recently so hoping for a good ringing session.