Return to the reed bed

With the end of March fast approaching, it was time last week to prepare our reed bed nets ready for Spring migration. A look back at previous years shows that the first Sand Martins and White Wagtails have been caught at the end of March but not this year.
Unfortunately, persistent wind and a drop in temperature has slowed down our effort but the most notable species caught during the week was Reed Buntings.

Another 6 added to our colour ring study birds. The colour rings enable the birds to be encountered again without catching them as the colour rings can be easily read and the unique combination enables us to look up where and when the bird was ringed. Over the winter, several different birds have been spotted around the feeders at the Visitor Centre and along the cycle track through the reserve.

The oldest male seen over the winter was ringed in 2014 and seen each year since.
Thanks again to the photographers who keep a look out for our colour ringed birds. Particularly valuable are records from April 1st - Aug 31st, the period of our RAS study

Just one Pied Wagtail was ringed last week but on two evenings around 100 have been seen going to roost. The Teifi Marsh is a major stop over site for White Wagtails on migration to Iceland and many have been ringed by us, with one recovery from Iceland. All we need is a window in the weather..!!

Looking ahead to our CES season, we have been able to purchase new bamboo poles thanks to a successful grant application to the BTO.

The Linnet project continues at Mwnt but low numbers for the last two weeks possibly implies that our wintering population has moved north and our breeding population have yet to arrive. We did catch a smart male Stonechat though.

and the first Wheatear of the year. The headland is good for migrant Wheatear but very few have been seen so far this year.

Another returning migrant ringed this week was a male Blackcap with a fat score of 5 ! It was in  my garden at the same time as a Brambling. Both unusual birds in the garden but never before at the same time.

And now we wait for better weather....