Totals and movements of 2024

Last year was another full of various activities, CES, several RAS and a colour- ringing project. General migration monitoring at several sites to more precise activities like regular whoosh netting. A variety of nesting studies with 231 Nest Record returns.

From this remarkable occurrence in a mist net, an adult Peregrine Falcon

to the more common study species, one of our colour ringed Reed Buntings.  

A RAS project now in it's 12th year, the photo by one of the Teifi Marshes Reserve's regular photographers, a great example of our partnership with the WTSWW.

All the main activities and results are posted in an ongoing way - see the posts made during the year, but do ask us for any further details.

The Group AGM is on this Thursday 23rd  with (16 confirmed so far) members attending. Several of the Group will be eating in The Grosvenor, Cardigan, before the meeting if anyone else fancies pre meeting meal and chat.

A good  opportunity to meet members of the Group you don't regularly meet, to discuss further any activities both local studies and help provided elsewhere.. 

...helping West Oxon Farmland Project ..

Our 2024 species and totals are shown here

2024 Teifi Ringing Group Totals 

The figures are already available and will remain accessible from the link in the side bar along with previous years.

Highlights of movements...

29 of the 162 Storm Petrels captured  at Strumble Head were either encountered elsewhere during the season or has already been ringed at other coastal locations.

Details of these and movements of other species received in 2024 are listed here and have been written about in previous blogs.

2024 Teifi Ringing Group Recoveries and Controls

Recent highlights ...

Early surprise for the year another garden Firecrest in mid Pembs.

Two Brambling at The Emporium on the 7th and 10th

The moon helps lamping now, so hopefully nighttime activities may supplement the rather limited mist netting over the next few weeks..

(Rich D and Wendy J)

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)

Early Winter and a White Wagtail recovery..

We started November with a second Water Rail in two days at our Mallard Pond site whilst colour-ringing and processing Reed Buntings.

Redwings so far are thin on the ground, a lack of berries on the Hawthorns etc too. By early December only 88 have been ringed at our sites.

No Blackcaps this early winter but new Chiffchaffs are present most sessions on the reserve and Firecrests continue to appear - quite a new pattern for us. Three  birds in the last session including a bird we ringed in Nov 2023.

Jane has been busy at The Emporium...a Finnish ringed Starling, a Goldfinch ringed elsewhere and some variety with Treecreeper, Firecrest and 23 Greenfinches. 

Starling   A85174 was ringed in the nest age 1  Tuusula, Uusimaa, Finland 18/05/2023

Re-encountered    Llwynygroes, Ceredigion 22/11/2024

554 days 2004km WSW

Jane is making excellent progress  developing her new site " The Emporium"  for the group. New rides cut, net locations optimised and potter traps being made. At 168m this a useful addition to our upland sites. Already 765 birds have been processed of 22 species since mid August. 

Wendy's home ringing reflects species seen on the feeders with a predominance of Goldfinches. So far this year, 310 Goldfinches processed compared with 206 Blue Tits which used to be the dominant species.

Note the mid April date of capture below - White Wagtails are our first numerous Spring passage migrant.  

White Wagtail     ABB8518

Ringed  Teifi Marshes 11/04/2018

Ring only found in South East Iceland 27/11/2024 2422 days 1541 km NNW

This White Wagtail - our 4th movement to Iceland or the nearby near Arctic waters, we also have a site faithful stopover bird too.

Chaffinch movement   ABY0026

Ringed    Boncath, Pembs 10/07/2022

Re-encountered  Llyn Llech Owain feeding station, Carmarthenshire  01/11/2024

845 days 44km ESE Paul Aubrey

Sedge Warbler   AVZ2169

Ringed   Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 01/05/2023

Re-encountered   Frossay, Loire-Atlantique 04/08/2024 461 days 572km SSE

This Sedge Warbler movement is a typical record of one of our  migrating birds.

A good effort at recording colour ringed Reed Buntings on the Teifi Marshes by Hannah and Liz in November. 19 individuals, the oldest having been ringed in 2018.

Reserve photographers are contributing to sightings too

Colour ringed Reed Bunting - Geraint James

We hope to add to the winter season's lamping totals as the moon phases become more helpful.

(Rich D and Wendy J)

October - Firecrests, Cetti's..

A Water Rail...in the Pentood nets on the 31st, our first of the year...

Maybe some effort with potter traps as we hear several around the Marshes...

On the 19th, 3 Firecrests near the River View Point on the Reserve. Three in October, perhaps a sign of breeding sites closer than we are aware...

One was a returning bird - recorded both sides of the new year last winter. Since the 19th two further different individuals too..   

9 Firecrests so far in 2024, 3 are returning birds and our peak recording period - November is yet to start.... !

Cetti's Warblers - with 42 different individuals caught this year - including  12 re-encounters from previous years, a good year. Maybe some immigration in particular of females based on size as we continue to catch new birds.

More analysis of our Cetti's Warbler data to follow in the future.

Likely our final Reed Warbler of the year on the 30th at Mallard, a 15.2g bird with a fat score of 5 - clearly planning to migrate, thus following Diane's sighting on the 29th. 

Not our latest Reed Warbler with one caught on 2nd Nov 2021.

Whilst ringing in Mallard on the 30th, great to catch 10 Reed Buntings, though outside of the RAS study season great to re encounter 6 and colour ring 4 new birds.

Of 68 different Reed Buntings encountered this year - 28 are from previous years including three ringed in 2018

Mid winter can be very good for both catching and for photographers to record colour - ringed birds for us.

Since the middle of October weather has allowed the ringing development of the Rhiwlas site on the Reserve and some increase in effort and training.

A Redwing at Rhiwlas

Redwing are passing through but slow with lack of food this year.  The hillside at the back of Rhiwlas field is holding a roost at the moment.

With the first Woodcock are arriving at the coastal observatories - soon for us to start this seasons upland farmland studies.. Of the 164  Woodcock  we encountered earlier this year - with 17 from previous years (including 2 from 2020 and 2 from 2021) we look forward to assessing the breeding success of these European birds.

In the next blog some words and photos from Jane's new ringing site " Emporium" Off to a flying start with good early success. An update from Wendy's site too. We expect to ring at both these sites through the winter..

Recoveries

Storm Petrel  2787329

Ringed  Strumble Head 30/07/2024

Re-encountered   Copeland Bird Obs, Down, Northern Ireland 03/08/2024 4 days 298km N

So far, 22 Storm Petrels  ringed at Strumble have been re-encountered elsewhere this year, a couple of new movements....

2787310 Strumble 28/07/2024 Bardsey Island, Gwynedd 15/08/2024 18 days 84km NNE

2739418 Strumble 18/07/2024 Bardsey Island, Gwynedd 16/08/2024 395 days 84km NNE

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Autumn delights

Mid September sessions on the Teifi Marshes have been limited by adverse weather conditions. On the 18th, after a typical session of mainly young Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, the final bird of the morning was a surprise 2nd year Peregrine Falcon. 

Mixed age brown and grey feathers on the mantle

Not many adults are ringed in the UK, just 5 in 2022 and none in Wales for at least 5 years. The majority are ringed as pulli in nests.

At other sites, Karen has been ringing Meadow Pipits on Dinas Mountain and a couple of sessions in Ty Rhyg forest. The most frequently encountered bird in the last 2 weeks being Goldfinch (44) at our garden CES site.

The next blog will contain more totals and some end of season summaries.

A recent unusual Starling recovery...

Starling   LL86339

Ringed  Bancyffordd, Carms 14/11/2019

Ring only found with a metal detector under a Peregrine nest (Schedule 1 permit)  Defynnog, Powys 11/09/2024 1762 days 51km ESE 

An interesting write up of Andy's work with Starlings in a previous blog

"Starlings, tricky blighters to re-catch"

Permits and training..

Ellyn and Brennig attended the Gower Ringing Course. Jane, who has who recently had a C permit with mist net endorsement, was there as well as a helper and Chris as an assessor.

Gower Ringing Course 2024

As we start October we look forward to the first Redwings, and autumn Blackcaps usually around the second week

(Wendy J and Rich D)

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)

Summer movements

Warbler and further Storm Petrel movements.  

This movement of a Reed Warbler, presumably via the Teifi Marshes to it's west Ireland breeding site - where still a very scarce breeder.

Reed Warbler  BBB2703 ringed Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 04/05/2024

Re-encountered Shannon Airport Lagoon, Clare 20/07/2024 77 days 301km WNW Phil Brennan

Garden Warbler - an example of three primaries being moulted - leading to a suspended wing moult prior to migration. (24/7)

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler  BBB2670

Ringed  Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 04/05/2024

Re-encountered  Litlington E Sussex 30/07/2024 87 days 362km ESE Cuckmere RG

Storm Petrel update...

Movements not published...

2739416 Strumble 18/07/2023 Calf of Man 16/06/2024 334 days 225km N

2788509  Bardsey Island   09/07/2023 Strumble 12/06/2024 339 days 86km SSW

2787306 Strumble 24/07/2024 Calf of Man 28/07/2024 4 days 225km N

2787211 Strumble 13/06/2024 Lundy Island 08/07/2024 25 days 101km SSE

2787212 Strumble 13/06/2024 Skokholm Island 28/07/2024 45 days 40km SSW

2788714 Strumble 08/07/2024 Skokholm Island 28/07/2024 20 days 40km SSW

2787275 Strumble 13/07/2024 Skokholm Island 28/07/2024 15 days 40km SSW

2787270 Strumble 13/07/2024 Skokholm Island 04/08/2024 22 days 40km SSW

2787240 Strumble 10/07/2024 Skokholm Island 04/08/2024 25 days 40km SSW

2787300 Strumble 15/07/2024 Skokholm Island 04/08/2024 20 days 40km SSW

2787322 Strumble 29/07/2024 Skokholm Island 04/08/2024 6 days 40km SSW

2787231 Strumble 01/07/2024 Skokholm Island 28/07/2024 27 days 40km SSW

2787257 Strumble 11/07/2024 Skokholm Island 04/08/2024 24 days 40km SSW

(Rich D and Wendy J)