Storm Petrels and Warblers

Another Storm Petrel season at Strumble Head has drawn to a close

During June, July and the start of August, 150 Storm Petrels were ringed and 12 re-encounters. 21 ringed at Strumble were re-encountered elsewhere.

Measuring the wing of a Storm Petrel 

We introduced Storm Petrel ringing not only to some of our ringing group but also some enthusiastic youngsters and other guests.

Thanks to Stephen Hyam for capturing the atmosphere of a Storm Petrel night

Some movements not detailed in previous blogs includes a Storm Petrel ringed on Alderney 40 days before.

Storm Petrel P14538
Ringed Longis Bay, Alderney 18/06/2024
Re-encountered Strumble Head 28/07/2024 40 days 327km NW

An interchange with Bardsey birds with three ringed at Strumble being re-encountered there and one ringed there re-encountered by us at Strumble

2787308 Strumble 28/07/2024 Bardsey Island, Gwynedd 11/08/2024 14 days 84km NNE

2739430 Strumble 19/07/2023 Bardsey Island, Gwynedd 19/07/2024 389 days 84km NNE

2787307 Strumble 24/07/2024 Bardsey Island, Gwynedd 10/08/2024 17 days 84km NNE

2788626 Bardsey Island 16/08/2023 Strumble 10/08/2024 360 days, 84km NNE

Away from the sea we have also been busy ringing on the Teifi Marshes, Cors Caron, Ty Rhyg forest, Dinas Mountain, St Nicholas and the Linnet RAS site.

To give a feel for the last 3 weeks, the following species have been ringed since the 20th August..

Sedge Warblers are still being caught on migration. Some heavy birds with a lot of fat have been encountered including a Sedge Warbler 18.4g fat score 7 and the heaviest Reed Warbler we have ever weighed at 15g, fat score 5.

A couple of less usual species for the Teifi Marshes, a Whinchat, Stonechat and 2 Lesser Whitethroat

Whinchat

A noticeable number of Linnets in the table for the RAS study run by Chris. These 72 were only over a couple of sessions. Annual total so far this year is 754 ringed, 335 subsequent encounters. A summary to follow at the end of the season

A very good 6 year old Linnet from Mwnt, our previous RAS site, to North Ron. A bit of research suggests this is the longest intra UK movement.

Linnet ABB9373
Ringed Mwnt, Ceredigion 16/08/2018
Re-encountered North Ronaldsay, Orkney 06/05/2024 2090 days 815km

All 12 sessions were completed for Garden CES in Llechryd. It felt a quiet year and this is confirmed looking at the data. 296 unique captures this year and 411 last year. For many sessions planning was difficult because of wind and /or rain.  Compared with last year some species stood out as being low in number. Blue Tit juveniles probably the most noticeable decrease along with Goldfinch and Great Tit juveniles. Some increases, notably Bullfinch and Greenfinch juveniles. 

Obviously conclusions can't be drawn from one garden CES alone so we will await the report from across the country later in the year 

With nest recording season nearly finished as well, we will be looking at the data from over 220 nests recorded and summarising productivity in another blog soon. A Swallow pullus from one of Andrew's study sites has already been re-encountered 19km away in a roost at Oxwich Marsh by Gower Ringing Group.

Swallow AVZ1503

Ty Coch Stables, Trimsaran 08/06/2024

Re-encountered Oxwich Marsh, Swansea 12/08/2024 65 days, 19km

The last active Swallow nest at Ty Coch Stables still
 being monitored by Andrew. A 3rd brood on top of a light.

A Cors Caron ringed Pied Flycatcher, may have been seeking a new breeding location - even if only a short distance.

Pied Flycatcher AEK1207
Ringed Cors Caron, Ceredigion 08/07/2022
Re-encountered Pen-y -Cefn, Ceredigion 01/06/2024 694 days 4km SSE


We move on into autumn, busy when weather allows, in the reed beds of the Teifi Marshes with the tail end of Sedge Warbler migration and ending the day with some Swallows coming in to roost 

Dusk on the Teifi Marshes

As we head towards winter and await the arrival of species as diverse as Redwings to Woodcock,
we will continue to monitor our main sites and plan for our winter ringing with greater
use of other trapping methods and the added ranges of winter species.

(Wendy J and Rich D)