Sedge Warblers and evening ringing

Sedge Warbler migration is slowing down but Reed Warblers may still be attending fledged young therefore we will seeing them for a while longer.

Sedge Warbler - Diane Williams

As dusk approaches we have been opening a couple of mist nets for Swallows and Sand Martins, though Yellow Wagtail along with Pied and White  coming to roost and a hunting Hobby have added to the evening.

Evening ringing in the reeds

Sedge Warblers processed July to August 

Teifi Marshes

2026   519 total  474 new

2025   629 total  546 new

Cors Caron

2026 76 new

2025 86 new

Though captures are down on the previous year we believe a successful early breeding season, followed by prolonged good feeding weather encouraged birds to move early. Fat scores and weight seem to be slightly  lower this season, maybe due to not depositing fat, just feeding as they move in the exceptionally good conditions.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

Overall, the recoveries below  reinforce established migration corridors linking Wales with western France, Cornwall, and Dorset, and demonstrates the high mobility of Sedge Warblers during July and August.             

Movements of Sedge Warblers in July and August

Sedge Warbler 9108551 

13/08/2022 Treogat, Finistere, France 01/07/2026 Teifi Marshes  1418 days 467km N

Sedge Warbler BXF0605

24/07/2025 Carey Floodplain, Dorset  27/07/2026 Teifi Marshes  368 days 233km NW 

Sedge Warbler BJD8212

31/07/2024 Trimley Marsh, Suffolk  29/07/2026 Teifi Marshes 728 days 405km W 

Sedge Warbler  9343538

25/08/2023  Treogat, Finistere, France 06/05/2026 Teifi Marshes  985 days 467km N

Sedge Warbler 10179216

24/07/2025 Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France 03/05/2026 Teifi Marshes 283 days 562km NNW

Sedge Warbler BEP3406

09/08/2026 Nanjizal, Cornwall 16/08/2026 Teifi Marshes 7 days, 236km NNE

Sedge Warbler BCK8690

23/07/2026 Cors Caron 09/08/2026 Clanfield, Oxfordshire 17 days, 171km ESE

Sedge Warbler BKN8888

31/07/2026  Teifi Marshes 07/08/2026 Carey Floodplain, Dorset 7 days, 232km SE

Sedge Warbler   BZK4348

17/08/2026   Teifi Marshes   20/08/2026 Carey Floodplain, Dorset 3 days 232km SE

Sedge Warbler   BHH5582

22/08/2025 Teifi Marshes  11/07/2026 Kinneil Lagoon, Falkirk, Scotland 323 days 442km N

A couple of Reed Warbler movements. More on Reed Warblers in a later post - a RAS (Retrap Adult Survival) study species.

Reed Warbler BLJ7672

11/07/2026 Oxwich Marsh, Swansea 02/08/2026 Teifi Marshes  22 days 67km NNW 

Reed Warbler BBB3358

15/05/2025 Teifi Marshes  16/07/2026 Cors Ddyga, Anglesey 427 days 130km N 

Only one movement involved Cors Caron, with a Sedge Warbler travelling 171 km ESE to Oxfordshire — consistent with the site’s typical eastward mid summer pattern. 

This bird was re-encountered by our ringing buddies in the WOFBP (West Oxfordshire Farmland Bird Project).  A Group we visit several times each winter to assist with farmland winter feeding projects.

Evening activities mentioned earlier have resulted in  377 Swallows, 11 Sand Martins plus a few wagtails ringed. As the Swallow passage has decreased we now focus on wagtails - with a particular interest in White Wagtails. 

With 5 recoveries of our ringed  White Wagtails in Iceland - a real focus ! 

A fat 4 , 31.5 g adult male White Wagtail the highlight of the latest session on the 1st September.

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Storm Petrels - Strumble Head

Our highest total with 208 new Storm Petrels ringed in 12 visits to Strumble Head  between 15th June and 7th August this year - 2026. 

We re-encountered 28 birds wearing rings fitted elsewhere and 11 birds ringed at Strumble were re-encountered elsewhere. This number is likely to rise when Storm Petrel data at some other sites is submitted to the BTO. 

We processed four Storm Petrels ringed by us, two from 2025, two from 2024.

A ringing demonstration in the Strumble Head lookout (Stephen Hyam)

The Strumble Head catching and processing  sites are well structured, and we use the site with permission of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.  This enables us to offer new experience for trainees, ringing demonstrations to formal and informal groups, and hosts mist net endorsement assessment.

Storm Petrel Movements Involving Strumble Head, 2024–2026

Storm Petrel ringing and recovery data from 2024–2026 highlight Strumble Head as a significant movement hub within the Celtic Sea and Irish Sea. Birds encountered at Strumble originate from a wide geographical spread including Cornwall, Ireland, Bardsey, Gwynedd, Lundy and, most prominently, Skokholm Island. Conversely, birds ringed at Strumble disperse widely across the western seaboard of Britain and Ireland.

Storm Petrel movements from Strumble

Storm Petrels were re-encountered at Strumble from Skokholm, Porthgwarra, Little Saltee, Porth Iago, Cape Clear, Bardsey, Lundy, 

Movements to Strumble

Recoveries at Strumble Head of Birds Ringed Elsewhere

A total of 28 birds ringed away from Strumble were subsequently encountered at the site. These movements fall into two broad categories: long range Celtic Sea crossings and short range movements from Skokholm Island.

Long range movements

Several birds made substantial crossings of the Celtic Sea or Irish Sea before arriving at Strumble:

• Cape Clear Bird Observatory, Cork → Strumble Head One bird moved ENE across the Celtic Sea after “361 days 313km ENE”.

• Little Saltee, Wexford → Strumble Head A direct eastward movement recorded after “374 days 104km E”.

• Bardsey Island → Strumble Head Two birds travelled SSW into Pembrokeshire after “331 days 84km SSW” and “351 days 82km SSW”.

• Porth Iago, Gwynedd → Strumble Head A similar SSW movement occurred after “323 days 94km SSW”.

• Porthwarra, Cornwall → Strumble Head A strong northward movement recorded after “325 days 224km N”.

• Lundy Island → Strumble Head A rapid movement northwards after only “6 days 95km NNW”.

These recoveries demonstrate Strumble Head’s position as a key interception point for Storm Petrels moving through the Celtic Sea basin.

Short range movements from Skokholm Island

The majority of recoveries originate from Skokholm Island, only 40 km SSW of Strumble Head. These movements show a highly consistent pattern:

• Distance: 40 km NNE

• Intervals: from 0–12 days (e.g. “0 days 40km NNE”, “5 days 40km NNE”, “12 days 40km NNE”)

• Longer intervals: up to “683 days 40km NNE” and even “3616 days 40km NNE”

Recoveries Elsewhere of Birds Ringed at Strumble Head

A total of 11 birds ringed at Strumble were later encountered away from the site. These movements show broad dispersal across the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, and northern Britain.

Movements to Cornwall

The most frequent outbound direction is SSW towards Cornwall:

• “710 days 224km SSW”

• “1088 days 224km SSW”

• “18 days 224km SSW”

• “16 days 224km SSW”

These mirror the inbound movements from Cornwall to Strumble.

Movements to Ireland

Two birds crossed westwards to Cork:

• “20 days 271km W”

• “1098 days 271km W”

Movements to Lundy

A rapid SSE movement was recorded:

• “5 days 95km SSE”

Movements to Scotland

Two notable long range movements northwards:

• Porthknockie, Moray – “38 days 645km NNE”

• St Abbs Head, Scottish Borders – “30 days 472km NNE”

• Eilean Nan Ron – “731 days 727km N”

Movements to Isle of Man 

• Calf of Man – “35 days 225km N”

These demonstrate substantial northward dispersal into the Irish Sea and beyond.

A summary of  re - encounters to date.

(to and from Strumble)

1. Strumble Head as a Celtic Sea crossroads

Birds arrive from multiple directions—Cornwall, Ireland, Bardsey, Gwynedd, Lundy and Skokholm—highlighting Strumble’s position on a major Storm Petrel movement corridor.

2. Strong Skokholm–Strumble linkage

The repeated 40 km NNE movements, often within 0–12 days, show Strumble Head as a reliable interception point for Skokholm birds during the breeding season.

3. Bidirectional Celtic Sea movements

Birds ringed at Strumble disperse widely:

• SSW to Cornwall

• W to Cork

• SSE to Lundy

• NNE to Scotland

• N to Isle of Man and Eilean Nan Ron

4. Rapid movements

Several birds moved between sites in under 10 days, demonstrating high mobility during the breeding period.

5. Long-term fidelity

Multi year intervals (e.g. “1088 days”, “1098 days”, “3616 days”) indicate long-term survival and repeated use of the Celtic Sea region.

Strumble Head continues to function as both:

• A major interception point for Storm Petrels dispersing from Skokholm, Bardsey, Cornwall, Ireland and Lundy.

• A launch point for birds moving SSW to Cornwall, W to Ireland, NNE to Scotland, and N to the Isle of Man and Eilean Nan Ron.

These movements reflect a dynamic and wide ranging Storm Petrel population, with Strumble Head positioned at a key junction of regional Storm Petrel traffic. 

(Rich D and Wendy J)

A recent Linnet movement..

A few words from Chris  following the latest movement of a Linnet, ringed at our Linnet RAS study site in Norh Pembs to Northern Ireland.

Linnet BEE7397

Ringed  27/03/2025 Moylegrove

Re-encountered   12/08/2026 Shamrock Island. Kilinchy, Down, NI 502 days 273km NNW

Ringed at the end of March, when most if not all of them seem to be passage birds; our breeders arrive a week or two later. 19.3 and 19.5 gm are at the very top end of the weight range for females, so it will have been carrying a good store of fat when ringed and when re-encountered, suggesting that it was already on its way back to its winter quarters when encountered on this island in Strangford Lough. Very nearly all our breeders have already departed by mid-August. So I'm thinking that yes it's a movement to N.Ireland, but via somewhere further north. - Chris Jones.

Linnet movements to N Ireland and North Ronaldsay

We have added the movement of a different Linnet, ringed at our previous Linnet RAS study site in Aug 2018 and retrapped on North Ronaldsay in  May 2024 .....2090 days 815km. 

A little research suggested this was the longest intra UK movement by a Linnet..

Chris is writing an end of season Linnet summary with RAS study details and other movements..

(Rich D and Wendy J)

Storm Petrels, Linnets, recoveries....

The June new moon phase means time for Storm Petrel ringing at Strumble Head. Over 5 sessions we ringed 59, and re-encountered 5 ringed at Strumble in previous years. Of the four that had been ringed elsewhere, one had been ringed in Cornwall, one from Wexford which we also caught last July, one from Bardsey and one from Skokholm. Also one ringed at Strumble in 2024 was re-encountered at Porthgwarra, Cornwall this May.

We also held a ringing demonstration for 17 people from Pembrokeshire Bird Group and interns from Sea Trust. three more demonstrations are planned for July.

Strumble Head ringing location

June 30th - update

For a variety of reasons  a few of us went to Strumble last night - under the Strawberry Full Moon..

Result 23 new Storm Petrels and 4 controls. Two of the birds ringed elsewhere were from Skokholm, one from Porth Iago, Llangwnnadl, Gwynedd and the ringing details of the 4th are awaited.

This visit may re shape the timings of our visits to catch Storm Petrels..

With CES 6 completed at both sites, Cors Caron and Llechryd, we are now halfway through the season. As expected the number and variety of juveniles are increasing. 19 species so far across the two sites. Adults, and juveniles of Great Spotted Woodpecker  are starting primary moult. 

Nuthatch in primary moult - Jane

Linnet RAS - June 29th....  a best-ever afternoon at Lleine during which 154 Linnets were processed.

Some recent recoveries

Woodcock  EM26751

04/02/2022 Ffarmers, Carms 16/04/2026

Moscow Oblast. Russian Federation 1531 days 2857km E Shot

Woodcock   EA79739

20/02/2026 Brook, Carmarthenshire

24/04/2026 Perm Oblast Russian Federation 62 days 3930 km E Shot

This is one of the group's furthest movements of a Woodcock, nearly to the Ural mountains!

Starling LR62432

12/11/2024 Llwyn - y groes, Ceredigion

12/06/2026 Rumina, Belarus 576 days 2303km E where it was found entangled in crop netting

(Wendy J and Rich D)

Warblers, studies and recoveries

Sedge Warblers  trickled through this May although no fall. 203 have been ringed this spring on the Teifi Marshes and 10 at Cors Caron. The biggest day was on May 3rd with 30 new and a control wearing a French ring, the details of which are awaited.

Ringed Sedge Warbler - Diane Williams

On the 7th May two Sedge Warblers that had been ringed elsewhere....

Sedge Warbler   BVH209     

Ringed  07/08/2025 Trimley Marsh, Suffolk

06/05/2025 Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 272 days 405km W      J Zantboer

Sedge Warbler  ADK2977   

Ringed  06/08/2025 Hengistbury Head, Dorset

07/05/2025 Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 274 days 249km NW   Christchurch Harbour RG

Reed Warblers are returning with 28 for RAS that we had ringed in previous years.

Ringed Reed Warbler - Diane Williams

2 Reed Warblers from 2018

Reed Bunting RAS re-encounters from previous years are on track for a good year with a total of 26. Of those, 20 were colour ring re-sightings

At one of our other sites on the Teifi Marshes as usual quiet in late May but some variety and old birds. Soon it will be busy with young birds.

Adult Kingfisher

Once again a Garden CES is being carried out in Llechryd and is always quiet in early May. Some good re-encounters included a Chiffchaff ringed on the Teifi Marshes in 2021 and caught as a breeding female at the garden CES site 2km away in 2022, 23 and 24. A male Chiffchaff was also re-encountered from 2022. 2 new and 3 retrap Great Spotted Woodpeckers wasn't a surprise as 26 had been ringed here since the start of CES last May

Up in the north of the county, Jane and Aaron have been busy with  nest box studies, Cors Caron CES and colour ringing of Willow Tits for a new RAS

At Cors Caron CES 3, 2 male Whinchats, one ringed in 2023

Also Tawny and Barn Owl ringing. 

Tawny Owl chick being ringed by Jane

Some recent movements...

Storm Petrel   2787207

12/06/2024 Strumble Head

23/05/2026 Porthgwarra, Cornwall 710 days 224km SSW West Cornwall RG

Woodcock   EM42415

22/02/2023 Nant Clawdd, Carmarthenshire

29/03/2026 Kaluga O. Russian Federation 1131 days 2717km E Shot

Although not this year, we have just received news of the ringing details of this Chiffchaff wearing a Spanish ring...

Chiffchaff A07648

14/10/2023 Depuradora Sur Castellbisbal, Barcelona, Spain

29/04/2025 Llanfair Clydogau, Ceredigion 563 days 1271km NNW

As usual, June will see the start of Storm Petrel sessions at Strumble Head, completing the last nest records and continuing our various CES and RAS projects.

(Wendy J and Rich D)

April - new arrivals, first juvenile..

April always a month of great expectations on the Teifi Marshes in our reedbed sites.

Early April delivered with an early White Wagtail ringed on the 8th.

White Wagtail

The following morning, the  9th April our first 2 Sedge Warblers.

White Wagtail passage will be over for us before the end of April, but Sedge Warbler passage usually  peaks early May. By the 28th, 44 White Wagtails have been ringed and 95 Sedge Warblers. Also two retrap Sedge Warblers from 2024 and 2025.

The re-encounter of our first Reed Warbler on the 18th, was expected. Often the majority of early Reed Warblers are our own ringed adults. By the 26th we had re-encountered 8 returning birds. The oldest was ringed in 2018 and seen each year since 2022.

Nests of several species including Dippers and Pied Flycatchers are being monitored.

The first fledgling of this breeding season was a Robin at Jane's Emporium site. 

Some recent movements reported to us include...

Siskin    BJD3749

27/12/2024 Llwyn - y groes, Ceredigion

06/04/2026 Shebster, nr Caithness, Highland 465 days 708km N

Siskin   BTJ5752

05/06/2025 Cnoc, Argyll and Bute, Scotland

16/04/2026 Llanfair Clydogau, Ceredigion 315 days 456km S R W Furness

Woodcock    EV02091

22/02/2025 Glanwern, Carmarthenshire

19/04/2026 Novgorod O., Russian Federation 420 days 2451km ENE

(Wendy J and Rich D)

Arrivals...and recoveries.

March was another difficult month to plan ringing with winds often higher than forecast.

It is early though for our main migration monitoring on the Teifi Marshes although migrants are starting to arrive with Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers singing. A small number of Pied Wagtails are around at dusk but no White Wagtails yet. Sites are prepared ready for when weather allows.

Preparation work has also been carried out at Cors Caron ready for CES. 

Jane and Arfon have been doing some targeted ringing there, pre-CES season, for the new Willow Tit RAS. 

The oldest bird re-encountered so far was ringed in April 2021.

Winter lamping has now finished after a successful season. 

Golden Plover, one of the last birds ringed this season

Chris has started the Linnet RAS on the coast near Moylegrove.. An excellent start to the season with 148 captures of which 26 were from previous years. 

Dippers already have young and Ellyn ringed the first chick of the year last week.

News from the BTO of a Starling ringed in 2019 found freshly dead in Russia, the furthest passerine movement for the group. Kaluga is between Moscow and the Belarus border.

Starling  LL86262 Bancyffordd, Carms   29/10/2019

Found freshly dead  26/03/2026  Mahahovo, Borovsk district, Kaluga O. Russian Federation

2340 days 2699km E 

Starling from Carmarthenshire to Russia

Also news of a Reed Warbler re-encountered in Portugal

Reed Warbler   BKB3692

Ringed   09/07/2025 Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion

Re-encountered  23/08/2025 Caminha, Viano de Castelo, Portugal 45 days 1176km SSW

Colour ring reading 

23rd March, a White Stork was near Ferwig.  First seen on the 19th near Penparc. Thanks to Mark Waldron's photos of the ring, a yellow inscribed darvic CV03, an internet seach found it to be from the Cove Valley, Devon reintroduction scheme. A male bird released last year. It was seen in Northamptonshire in August and South Pembs in September

White Stork - Mark Waldron

Curlew - colour ring white on black J0 with orange on the other leg was  still present on the 1st April. It was first ringed on the reserve in 2022 with colour rings added in 2025

Curlew J0 - Diane Williams

The Black-tailed Godwit that was ringed last year on the marshes wasn't colour ringed but its BTO metal ring can be read. It was still present on the 1st April and changing into breeding plumage.

The Reed Bunting RAS on the Teifi Marshes runs from 1st April and Hannah and Liz have been busy resighting the rings. Over the winter, in the out of RAS period, there have been 69 sightings of 40 individuals. 

(Wendy J and Rich D)

Reedbeds and recoveries...

Siskins are moving, some populations moving on towards breeding grounds, other arriving.

Female Siskin

Sand Martins arrived on the 27th and seen daily into March. We plan to start preparing then ringing the Mallard site in the coming weeks. Following the reed cut earlier in the month and the water levels dropping, a spell of  wader netting should be possible..

A view of this year's reed cut from the railway net ride..This area is tidal and wader roosts are mobile dependjng on water depth.

A new cut, alongside a path that connected 4 net rides at 90 degrees. I see little extensions and maybe a dog-leg to enhance...

With another phase of the moon suitable for lamping a couple of teams have been out surveying different types of fields at night. 

Wendy with Hannah and Liz found that on a couple of our North Pembs sheep pasture sites, the Woodcock were roosting in groups and flighty. This is known as "zugunruhe", a state of restlessness that migratory birds have prior to setting off on their migration. Fewer Snipe than usual at Cippyn but one was ringed.

Shane has been surveying some new farms in Carmarthenshire. It will be interesting to compare different  farming practices across all of our sites in years to come. He has introduced some of Pembs RG to lamping.

Dave from Pembs RG with a  Woodcock, the 50th Woodcock ftom Shane's new upland study farmland.

More Sedge Warbler movements have been received since the last blog.

The most southerly was this to Charente Maritime 

BBB2680  

Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 04/05/2024

Les Mathes, Charente Maritime 20/08/2025 473 days 754km SSE

These 2 were adults caught during peak spring migration of adult Sedge Warblers

BBB3333  

Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 06/05/2025

Sandouville, France 21/08.2025 107 days 452km SE

BBB3320  

Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 04/05/2025

 Sandouville, France 07/08/2025 95 days 452km SE

(Rich D and Wendy J) 

January update and news from France

January started with some very cold frosty weather then came the wet and windy weather which hasn't stopped. This has made any ringing difficult to plan. Despite that, the group managed to ring 490 birds utilising other methods than mist nets such as Potter traps, walk in traps and lamping. Often in the winter the most frequently ringed birds are Blue Tits but this January it was 129 Starlings. 

Lamping has been successful but challenging on waterlogged fields with 80 Woodcock being the third most caught bird.

Woodcock after ringing - Arfon

Both Jane and Shane have new sites for monitoring at night. An interesting site for Jane on the coast adds variety of habitat to the inland upland sites. As well as Woodcock, a variety of other species have been caught this month including Skylarks, Golden Plover, Snipe, Stock Dove, Redwing, Fieldfare, Meadow Pipits and Jack Snipe.

Jane and Aaron have used the time usefully putting up nest boxes. An appeal to landowners with possible sites for Starling boxes was successful. 30 boxes on one farm.

Starling boxes - Jane

Some Dipper boxes have gone up as well. 

Garden ringing has been frustrating with many birds on the feeders in bad weather then as soon as there is a glimmer of a chance to open nets the birds disappear. there has been a noticeable increase in Siskins on the feeders in the last 2 weeks

Our AGM was held on the 22nd January at The Grosvenor Hotel. A good turn out of members, guests and a special welcome to some of Pembs Ringing Group. All ringers with responsibility for sites gave a summary of the year and plans for the coming year. Minutes of the meeting are available on request.

Some recent recoveries received from the BTO included 5 Sedge Warblers ringed on the Teifi Marshes and caught in France on migration,

BKB3659  Sedge Warbler

Ringed Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion  01/07/2025

Re-encountered  Pontorson, Manche, France 15/08/2025 45 days 448km SSE

BTE5797  Sedge Warbler    

Ringed Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 06/09/2025

Re-encountered Frossay, Loire Atlantique, France 16/09/2025 10 days 570km SSE

BKB3757  Sedge Warbler    

 Ringed Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion 02/08/2025 

Re-encountered  Trunvel, Treogat, France 14/08/2025 12 days 467 km S

BHH6716  Sedge Warbler   

Ringed Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion

Re-encountered  26/07/2025 Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France 01/08/2025 6 days, 562km  SSE

AAZ6828  Sedge Warbler  

Ringed Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion

Re-encountered 29/04/2023 Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France 16/08/2025 840 days 562km SSE

and one from Cors Caron

BZB0810  Sedge Warbler 

Ringed Cors Caron, Tregaron 20/05/2023

Re- encountered  Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France 05/08/2025 808 days 565km SSE

This brings the number of Sedge Warbler movements to and from, the Teifi Marshes in 2025 to 15

Details of all movements can be seen under the ringing totals tab

2025 Teifi Ringing Group Movements

Another 2 Storm Petrel movements have been received making 23 in 2025

2787269 Strumble Head 13/07/2024 Pomta de Almadena, Portugal Re-encountered17/06/2025 339 days 1688km S

2788765 Strumble Head 14/07/2025 Re-encountered Sanda Island, Argyll and Bute 11/08/2025 28 days 363km N Clyde Ringing Group

The forecast for the start of the month continues to be wet and windy but at least the moon phase is now better for lamping.

Storm Petrel movement report 2025

 Storm Petrel Movement Report 2025

Summary of Recoveries and Movements Involving Strumble Head and Associated Sites

In 2025 between June 19th and July 30th we processed 115 Storm Petrels at Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, of which 109 were new birds. This is lower than the 2024 total of 162.

---

1. Overview

The dataset documents 32 individual Storm Petrel movements involving Strumble Head and a network of colonies and coastal observatories across the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, and eastern Atlantic. Movements range from short‑distance local exchanges (40–100 km) to long‑distance dispersal events exceeding 1,600 km. The records highlight Strumble Head as a major node in regional Storm Petrel movements, with repeated exchanges between Welsh, Irish, English, and Portuguese sites.

---

2. Key Movement Patterns

2.1 Dominant Local Movements

The most frequent pattern involves Strumble Head ↔ Skokholm Island, with 15 movements recorded.

• Distance: consistently 40 km
• Direction: SSW (to Skokholm) or NNE (to Strumble)
• Time intervals: 2 to 743 days
• These movements indicate strong short‑range connectivity between the two Welsh sites, likely reflecting foraging movements. 

2.2 Movements to Bardsey Island

Five birds moved between Strumble Head and Bardsey Island, all travelling 84–86 km NNE.

• Durations: 3–26 days
• These short‑interval movements suggest regional dispersal within the northern Irish Sea.

2.3 Movements to Lundy Island

Two movements link Strumble Head and Lundy Island (95–97 km SSE).

• Durations: 40–378 days
• These represent medium‑range movements within the Bristol Channel region.

---

3. Long‑Distance Movements

3.1 Ireland (Cork and Wexford)

Several birds travelled between Strumble Head and southern Irish sites:

• Galley Head (271 km W) – 9 days
• Cape Clear (312 km W) – 25 days
• Little Saltee, Wexford (104 km E) – 46 days
  These movements demonstrate cross‑Celtic Sea travel.

3.2 Isle of Man

One bird moved from Calf of Man → Strumble Head:

• 225 km S over 340 days

3.3 Portugal

The most distant movement in the dataset:

• Strumble Head → Pomta de Almadena, Portugal
• 1688 km S over 339 days
  This record highlights the species’ capacity for extensive Atlantic dispersal.

---

4. Notable Individuals

• 2739422 & 2739428
• Both moved from Strumble Head to Skokholm Island after 743 days, the longest intervals recorded.
• 2788730
• Recorded twice in the same season:
• Strumble → Bardsey (24 days)
• Strumble → Skokholm (33 days)
• Demonstrates multi‑directional dispersal within a short timeframe.
• 2787269
• The only bird recorded travelling to Portugal, representing the longest movement (1688 km).

---

5. General Interpretation

• Strumble Head functions as a central hub for Storm Petrel movements in the region, with birds dispersing in all directions.
• The majority of movements are local (40–100 km), consistent with foraging and short‑range colony interchange.
• A smaller number of medium‑range movements (100–300 km) link Wales with Cornwall, Wexford, and the Isle of Man.
• Long‑distance movements (>300 km), this demonstrates the species’ ability to traverse large sections of the northeast Atlantic.
• The presence of multi‑year intervals (up to 743 days) suggests repeated site fidelity or re‑encountering of individuals across seasons.

---

6. Conclusion

The dataset provides a valuable snapshot of Storm Petrel mobility across the Celtic Sea and adjacent waters. The strong clustering of movements around Strumble Head and Skokholm Island underscores the importance of these sites for monitoring regional population dynamics. Occasional long‑distance recoveries, including the movement to Portugal, highlight the broader Atlantic context of Storm Petrel ecology.

(Wendy J and Rich D)

Night time surveys and RAS results

 Now Shane has his permit for lamping waders...

Off to a good start with three Woodcock ringed on a new Preseli hills site, which he plans to visit and monitor regularly.

We have had initial reports for our RAS studies from the BTO.

It was another good season for Reed Warblers on the Teifi Marshes and we are continuing to surpass the target of 30 adult-adult recaptures. This year was our best year yet for adults overall with more adults ringed than ever before. Retraps were also very good with totals like this were last seen in 2017. 

Reed Buntings had a much better year than last year, with higher re-encounters than usual since 2021. Really good juvenile totals which would hopefully bolster the population next year. 

Chris will report on the Linnet RAS

Field sightings of ringed birds are a useful addition to retrapping them....

On a day when it was too windy to ring, Aaron used the time usefully by reading metal rings on Starlings in his garden. Hannah and Liz have been busy photographing Reed Bunting colour rings on the Teifi Marshes with 30 individuals resighted this winter. 

In November they found 2 Turnstones with flags at Llanon. Both had been ringed at Llanrhystud by Mid Wales ringers, PET on the 1st March 2025 and LEE on the 10th September 2025.

Colour marked Turnstones- Hannah

Jane has been successfully using her land ( Emporium) and other sites nearby for training. Providing both variety and numbers. With 2240 new and 1346 re-encounters covering  29 species.

Merlin

This Merlin was a surprise for Aaron in one of the Emporium mist nets on the 30th Dec. On the 6th January a Pied Wagtail got 2026 off to a good start.

As we post this, we are trapping Starlings in a couple of garden sites..the most interesting Starling so far - a re encounter at Wendy's of a bird ringed in January 2023. A nice site faithful winter visitor.

(Wendy J and Rich D)