Recoveries and night time surveys

A quiet start following Storm Darragh and a cold spell under a bright moon...

Our long running studies continue with nocturnal surveys on farmland, ringing on the Teifi Marshes reserve and gardens.

Although new for this year, Jane's site at Llwyn-y -groes near Tregaron is producing good results. Following on from the Starling with a Finnish ring detailed in the last blog, another Starling ringed elsewhere was caught. This had been ringed at a RAS study site for Starlings in Biggleswade.

Starling LR62542

Ringed   Biggleswade, Beds 30/01/2022

Re-encountered  Llwynygroes, Ceredigion 24/12/2024 1059 days 259km W Derek Gruar

197 Goldfinches have been ringed there since the beginning of October. One was caught in Wiltshire 40 days later

Goldfinch  BJD2724

Ringed  Llwyn-y-groes, Ceredigion      13/11/2024

Re-encountered   Biss Wood, Wilts       23/12/2024 40 days 163km SE West Wilts RG

Siskins arrived on Christmas Eve and since then 80 have been ringed.

Female Siskin - Jane

At our garden sites further south and at lower altitudes, Siskins haven't arrived in  any number.

Plenty of Goldfinches though. News of one ringed in Wendy's garden last winter was in Hampshire this December.

Goldfinch    BKB2276

Ringed  Llechryd, Ceredigion 10/12/2023

Re-encountered   Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hants 31/12/2024 396 days 241km G C Evans

Arfon is continuing the study of upland farms at night. As well as Woodcock he has caught a Jack Snipe in the same muddy patch it was originally wintering in two years ago also one ringed last year.

One Woodcock that he ringed last winter was shot in Lincolnshire in December.

Woodcock   EM41129

Ringed  Tan-lan, nr Ffarmers Carms 02/12/2023

Shot    Market Rasen, Lincs 14/12/2024 347 days 286km ENE

Further south in North Pembs we saw an exceptionally high count of 17 Woodcock on our winter farmland study site near Boncath on the 30th. Half that number would be usual, and some low weight birds suggesting new arrivals.

Soon we will have our totals for 2024 and will post with previous years in a side bar. A small discussion in the main post too.

(Wendy J and Rich D)