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.

Saturday 31 August 2013

Bouncing back!

It does say occasional at the start.  We are still alive and pick up things at our favourite time of the year - the returning Yellow Wagtails.  Sightings starting in ones or twos and then three days ago we set the nets and over the past three evenings have caught about 200 birds.  This year there is a difference as we are colour ringing them. A white engraved darvic above the metal on the left leg.  Please look out for them.  We are keen to see where some of the more challenging birds come from.






We started with AB. AA snapped! A challenging start but since then all has been going well. Two nights ago some 800 birds were at roost. They  pre-roost on the tern island and then fly to and from the Chesil Bank and then cross the water swirling round the reeds like a swarm of bees.  A sight to be seen!














The weather looks favourable for a few days so if the wind doesn't pick up we shall continue.