INTRODUCTION

This is foreseen to be an occasional blog relating to bird ringing at Abbotsbury Swannery. The site has operated as a BTO Constant Effort Site since 1995 and has taken part in the BTO Swallow Roost Project. In recent years we have concentrated in the autumn with both Yellow and Pied/White Wagtails. In 2009 we joined the Woodcock Network.

Monday, 10 October 2011

Too quiet for too long!

Bird Ringing hasn't stopped at Abbotsbury. Recent visits over the past month have been in the evenings solely for the wagtail roost and this has been covered in Luke's blog. However visible notes taken whilst watching the roosting Pied/White wagtails showed that the reason for small catch numbers despite quite a large roost was the condition of the reed. They did not like the older bent reeds and were favouring the new reed growing from the burnt area done back in the winter months.
With this in mind this morning the roost nets were repositioned in what we hope will give more favourable roost catches. Time will tell.

The withy bed nets were opened during the re-jigging of the nets  and a reasonable catch was made. Highlight being a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Not often caught away from the feeding station this bird could probably be heard in Langton Herring as it was extracted!

The sharp end!



One of several Robins


5.2 grams of Goldcrest 

Hopefully the wind will ease this week and the new net rides tested. Watch this space!