Mwnt

A new site for us this year to try ringing on a coastal headland. Success already with spring traps and 2 shelf nets with a Stonechat, Linnet and early today, in a South westerly gale - a Meadow Pipit. Hopefully we will manage to ring some Wheatears and other migrants over the Spring.
In the picture, a spring trap awaiting the first Wheatear.

Welsh Ornithological Society Grant

We are pleased to have received a grant from WOS

"Project: Importance of Teifi Marshes, Ceredigion, for Aquatic Warblers

Following the ringing of two Aquatic Warblers in 2010 in a part of Teifi Marshes not previously studied, work in summer 2011 will assess the occurrence of the species at the site.
A grant of £100 is assisting with the costs of ringing equipment."
http://www.birdsinwales.org.uk/activities/grants2011.htm

Swallow

Testing some new nets at the Mallard run this evening, and did manage to catch a male Swallow.

Controlled Sedge Warblers

News from the BTO today of 2 ringed Sedge Warblers that we caught in August.
One was a juvenile ringed by Tony Cross in Borth on August 15th and caught on the Teifi marsh 6 days later.
The 2nd was also a juvenile ringed at Hengistbury Head near Bournemouth on August 16th and caught on the Teifi marsh 8 days later, a distance of 250km. The Christchurch ringing group have a blog and it was interesting to read how their ringing session went on the day this bird was ringed.
"Aug 8
Another good haul at the HHC with acros dominating. A juvenile Redstart seen near to the HHC entrance got us excited for a short while but that was the last we saw of it. Some passing hirundines gave chase to a Sparrowhawk which also livened up proceedings. The totals were:- 85 Sedge Warblers,15 Reed Warblers,2 Greenfinches,13 Willow Warblers,1 Blue Tit,1 Robin and a Whitethroat. In all 118 birds."

Photograph taken on Sunday 7th. November

The most unexpected bird of the day was a Garden Warbler:

Photographs taken while ringing on Sunday 26th. September

Some photographs of a juvenile Willow Tit:

and the underside of the tail feathers:

There was some discussion as to whether this was a Willow or Marsh Tit. The deciding factors were - in Willow there is no pale bill spot - there is in Marsh. In the underside of the tail - willow
has a stepped pattern with 4 feather tips visible on each side. In Marsh only 2 feather tips are visible.

And three photographs of a goldcrest:

Photographs taken on Saturday 4th. September

These photographs are taken of one of the two lesser whitethroats ringed this morning: