Training

I joined the Teifi Ringing Group on 1st September this year. Whilst Richard and Wendy are away in Costa Rica I was asked if I could work with Chris to do some training with the Groups trainees either at my sites or those of the TRG. C permit holders can get out and do their own thing within the endorsements they have on their license but trainees are unable to ring unless someone goes with them. With two of the groups senior members ringing abroad it means trainees could be restricted. I invited all the Groups trainees to come to my site at Fygyn Common which is in Carmarthenshire. For some this is a shorter distance to travel than to the Teifi Marshes and it makes sense for trainees to spread their wings a little and get to different sites with different people gaining different experiences along the way. I had two sessions, Dai Stacey came to the first and Andrew Hughes came to the second. I will add I have met both Dai and Andrew before on a couple of occasions but since the time they have spent with me I know them much better.

Results for Dai

Dai Stacy	Full Grown	Pulli	Retraps	TOTAL
Wren	4	0		4
Dunnock		0	1	1
Robin	4	0		4
Redstart	1	0		1
Chiffchaff	2	0		2
Goldcrest	1	0		1
Coal Tit	1	0		1
Chaffinch	3	0		3
Goldfinch	5	0		5
Reed Bunting	2	0		2
Grand Total:	23	0	1	24
Total Species:	9	0	1	10

Bird of the day for Dai was this Juvenile Redstart which he aged and sexed confidently. The 10 species gave him the opportunity to handle and process the different birds and in particular 3 species he had done before but not in any great numbers namely Goldcrest, Reed Bunting and Coal Tit.

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Results for Andrew

Andrew Hughes	Full Grown	Pulli	Retraps	TOTAL
Meadow Pipit	11	0		11
Dunnock		0	1	1
Robin	1	0		1
Chiffchaff	5	0		5
Coal Tit		0	2	2
Blue Tit	4	0	2	6
Chaffinch	4	0		4
Goldfinch	8	0		8
Reed Bunting	2	0		2
Grand Total:	35	0	5	40
Total Species:	7	0	3	9

Andrew wanted Meadow Pipit having not ringed one before so I thought I would set the scene to catch a few. The day before he came he caught 2 birds with Chris and me at Mwnt. At Fygyn Common we caught another 11 which was good for him and helped to consolidate his ageing of this lovely bird which notoriously can be difficult at times.

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