Spring is nearly here....

Just to update the year so far....
On Saturday 27th February Wendy and I opened a net on the marsh to get the season started..
Two retrap Wrens the reward...Hmm
A couple of lamping sessions this week, Fieldfare, Snipe, Meadow Pipit and a couple of new Woodcock ringed - some jumpy tail flashing Woodcock too.

Garden ringing is our main activity during the variable weather winter season with Siskins a priority, and breeding season RAS for the species. January and February has produced 73 new Siskin, 19 retraps and one control.

This regular ringing produces some nice local movements such as  D678636.
Ringed in Boncath 18th February 2014, controlled in St. Dogmaels the following day the 19th.
Retrapped in Boncath 24th February 2016. (2 years later)
An interesting bird for us, as not caught during the breeding season. Perhaps just a winterer or passage....

This Rook in a 6m net was a surprise, and a new bird for the group. I never imagined looking at emarginations on Rooks !!

Marsh Tits are still garden birds for Wendy and I though not numerous.

 This distinctive Blackbird appeared in Karen's Potter trap.

Dai out-did us all with a month long experience in New Zealand. Here a colour-ringed Shore Plover, one of New Zealand's endemics.

A Wheatear just along the coast near Aberystwyth yesterday - time for spring traps at our coastal migration headland at Mwnt.....