Two of the birds we caught were retraps. EW93661 we ringed just across the road a couple of weeks ago. EX37965 was more interesting - we ringed that on 22nd Feb this year. That is now our 3rd retrap from a previous season. Now what we want to know is where our site faithful birds go for the summer.
This juvenile Snipe was caught a couple of night's ago, still plenty in the fields tonight.
After a couple of Woodcock trapped and ringed, pulses raised !
Juvenile Stock Doves moult during their first year, therefore difficult to age.
Owen Williams of the Woodcock Network has been asking if Woodcock numbers are down ? We are not sure.......but we are enjoying the variety of species on the hills this Winter.....
We were cannon netting with the SCAN wader ringing group. Our site for the morning was Bangor harbour where there is a regular Redshank roost at high tide.
After carrying all the heavy cannon netting equipment across the gravel from the car park, the layers soon came off and fingers were luckily warm enough to wire up the cannons.
With a good number of Redshank in the right area and minutes away from firing, a Buzzard shot along the beach and sat in a tree above the net. The waders were off in a flash and didn't return.
Luckily across the Menai Straits the other team had great success catching over 400 birds so we shot round to Beaumaris to help.
With many pairs of hands, the Dunlin were soon extracted and put in keeping cages.
In total, 6 Turnstone, 331 new and 91 retrap Dunlin were processed. One retrap was ringed in Jan 1999.
We usually catch our Dunlin one at a time at night by lamping so it was quite an experience to deal with so many and with the stunning backdrop of snow covered mountains.
Thanks to Steve and Dave and the rest of the SCAN team for a very educational day.
This one certainly knew how to bite and not let go!
The black cross bars on the wing coverts show a typical juvenile irregular pattern. The number of black cross bars on the outermost greater covert is another helpful ageing feature.
The day had started at 5am ringing 3 Woodcock before dawn. With the moon not setting until the middle of the night, evening lamping sessions are too bright so a morning wander with the lamp and net is the answer.
The path (4.9km,184m ascent, 2hrs 39 mins) looks totally random but the changes in direction usually means that we have spotted a bird and are heading towards it then moving round to get the wind in the right direction before approaching it. In the gale last night the birds were jumpy and also 3 badgers were wandering around the best part of the field so a lot of wandering but well worthwhile.
It turned up in a garden net alongside a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
The Woodpecker was a juvenile. The picture shows the old brown unmoulted Greater Coverts and the white tips to the primaries.
As well as a 60 foot net near feeders we have a net in an adjacent field that catches species like Redwings, Bullfinches and Song Thrushes. A couple of nets between a group of apple trees catches Fieldfare, Blackbirds and Starlings.
A trip up to Aberystwyth yesterday to learn how to fit geolocators to Woodwork was an all round great learning experience. As we work with The Woodcock Network, it was good to meet Owen Williams, the Director and Dr Andrew Hoodless, Scientific Advisor.
We were using dummy satellite transmitters which are bigger than Geolocators but the fitting technique around the legs of the Woodcock is the same.
The transmitter sits comfortably and securely on the Woodcocks back and does not interfere with preening or flying.
Enough Woodcock were caught for us all to practice on different birds. All the birds were also ringed and biometrics taken as usual. There is a useful pictorial ageing guide on the Woodcock Network website.
As well as learning this technique, the invaluable part of the evening was the lengthy discussions about the different equipment we all use. Not one net was the same and we have come back with new ideas about lamps and nets and a shopping list! Also it was good to compare the field type and Woodcock habits at sites we use. Could earthworm density and different farming practices be a big factor in Woodcock usage is something that would be interesting to look at in the future.
Last December, Paddy and I, on coastal South Pembs fields for Skylarks found this Long-eared Owl. Winter night time ringing does provide the chance for some otherwise near impossible birds to ring, and research.
Tomorrow evening, back to Woodcock on the hills -- geolocator fitting the lesson...
This was only our 8th Cetti's this year compared with 18 in 2010.
CES net 11 came up with Wendy's target bird of the morning session,..... 2 Firecrests, not just the one in the plan !
Our coastal dune site continues to add to our Goldcrest totals for the year but was otherwise quiet. A late Small Copper butterfly was a nice sighting there.
This is a juvenile Woodcock showing rounded inner primary tips and wear on the outer primary tips.
The Meadow Pipit was also a juvenile with a good contrast between the new adult greater coverts and the retained juvenile feathers.
And to complete the four, a Golden Plover (one of 13 seen)
and the Fieldfare being ringed.
(photos - Mike)
Last night Wendy & I ringed 3 Fieldfares, unbelievably under the stars. The rain and wind having past !!
A reasonable number of Pipits and Pied wagtails were feeding around the piles of seaweed. Despite plenty of insects and a tide that was really too low, some Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits were tempted by our waxworm bait.
The Rock Pipits showed none of the Scandinavian features of those we were catching last Autumn. 
This site is going to be a good alternative when strong winds from the south stop us doing anything else. Still 40mph gusts today but with heavy rain as well, even spring trapping isnt appealing!
Also, nice to retrap a Nuthatch, and catch up on ageing Great spots...this one a juvenile having completed his first primary moult.
(Photos Mike)
Just a few Goldcrest and Chaffinch were moving though the site but plenty of migration was visible high overhead.
Even common birds are photogenic to a newcomer to ringing. Mike was with us for the first time to see what his little sister gets up to and enjoyed taking some photos including this Dunnock, Goldcrest and Chaffinch.
Garden ringing tomorrow so probably some pictures of Blue Tits coming up......
TRG in action!