Mist netting 21/3/24
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
by
4d ago
 A small team assembled for a mist netting session around the willows & Stafford Brook. We set up a base in the pond dipping shelter, and finished setting the six nets at about 8am. It was a very quiet morning, despite the perfect ringing weather. We managed to catch 14 birds, 11 new and 3 retraps from previous sessions on site. Whilst we were processing a pair of Chiffchaffs, a Mallard wandered into the shelter. With the aid of a few crumbs of bread, Neil managed to entice the duck close enough to grab. Neil with the obviously male Mallard Neil helping Fran to ring the Mallard ..read more
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Shelduck Migration Project
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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1M ago
At the cannon netting session on 19th February the group took part in a shelduck research project which aims to identify the risks to migrating individuals from collisions with offshore wind farms.  The research is being carried out by Ross Green from the BTO. Shelduck don't perform the classical spring and autumn migrations between breeding and non-breeding sites like most migrant birds. Instead they migrate in summer – from mid-June to early August – to large estuaries to moult before moving on to wintering sites, which may or may not be near their breeding areas. All the known offshore ..read more
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Cannon netting 11/2/24 ....or not!
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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1M ago
The catch area at Seaton Marshes had been baited with grain since the last cannon netting session, and decent numbers of ducks and waders, including Shelduck & Black-tailed Godwit, had been seen feeding in the area. The cannon net was set up yesterday, and a team of 12 keen ringers attended for the catch this morning. At one stage there were about 30 Shelduck on the scrape, but they refused to feed on the grain and then flew off. At about 945am the decision was made to give up & disassemble the net.  The catch area during the week (photo: Adrian Bayley) The net set & ready ..read more
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Cannon netting 13/01/2024
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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1M ago
The group undertook its first cannon netting session of the year at Seaton Marshes. The catch area had been baited for several days. The net was set on the afternoon before the catch day by a few members of the group Setting the net and the cannon Weather conditions on catch day were ideal - cold with light winds – as about 15 members of the group waited for the bang of the cannon to send them scurrying down to the net. 27 birds were caught, which was about 2/3 of the birds in the target area. The catch comprised 22 shelduck, 3 teal, one wigeon and one moorhen. 16 of the shelduck ..read more
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Mist netting 17/10/2023
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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5M ago
Four members of the Group were joined by Fiona, a Countryside Assistant with Wild East Devon, for a session in the 'Willows'.  This area, which is quite close to the Discovery Hut, hasn't been ringed for quite some time. Severn nets were set, including one across the small brook which runs along the edge of the area, and a ringing base was set up in the pond-dipping shelter.  Ringing underway in the pond-dipping shelter.  It was rather windier than ideal, although better than had been forecast, and quite slow going with just a few birds each round. A Long-tailed Tit already we ..read more
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A successful wader catch 13/9/23
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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6M ago
It was in the pre-covid era that the last wader catch on the Axe took place, so there was much trepidation and excitement between ringers as we set up on Colyford Marsh. Teal, Curlew and Little Egret were all noted in this period, and their flight patterns influenced our placement of nets.  Wader footprints on the mud at Colyford – a promising start. (Photo: T. M. Mylett) Mist-netting for waders requires a different approach to our monthly passerine sessions; whilst the former group is best targeted from the early morning, it tends to be more successful to catch waders as they come in ..read more
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Mist netting 12/6/23 (slightly late!)
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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8M ago
A small contingent of members undertook a mist net session in and around the crop field on 12th June. We caught 31 birds of 14 species. A number of birds were juveniles and it was useful to examine the plumage and feather condition of these known age individuals. This 3J greenfinch shows the striated breast and the markedly pointed tail typical of a juvenile. This robin is in pin (age code 3JP) and the juvenile feathers are being replaced with those typical of adults. The yellowish tinge to the outer edge of the greater coverts is typical of juveniles.  This very streaky &am ..read more
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Mist netting 13/7/23
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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9M ago
A team of four members set five mist nets at the Colyford Common end of the reserve. As usual, we set up base on the viewing platform, where a new member received some training on taking wing measurements as passegers passed by on the Seaton Tramway.  It was a busy & interesting morning, as we caught 41 birds of 15 species, most of which were this year's youngsters. Only one bird previously ringed was re-trapped, a Blue Tit ringed on 19/8/22.  The one Blackbird we caught was a male, as shown by the yellow bill and eye-ring, and the dark plumage. The bird had started it ..read more
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Ringing Resumes!
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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11M ago
A small team of ringers met at 6am yesterday for a mist netting session at the Colyford Common end of the Seaton Wetlands, our first session since September. Ringing had been suspended largely due to concerns over HPAI (Bird Flu), however we have now resumed, implementing the BTO guidelines on the sanitising of equipment.  We were faced with an unexpected challenge on our arrival, when we were met by a herd of cows grazing in the field where we were planning to set two of our nets. Luckily we managed to herd them into an adjoining field without too much difficulty.  Pre-ringing ..read more
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Mist netting 6/9/2022
Axe Estuary Ringing Group
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1y ago
A session was planned for Tuesday morning, to take place before the forecast rain at about 10. As it was, there was a short sharp shower at about 8, and other than that it was dry, if a bit windy. Six nets were set in the vicinity of the Discovery Hut, and 25 birds were captured, of 13 species. It was great that a lot of the birds were warblers, including 7 Sedge Warblers, 6 youngsters and an adult. The 2 Chiffchaffs caught were both hatched this year, one was still in its juvenile plumage, and one had almost completed its post-juvenile moult. A Willow Warbler which had also completed its post ..read more
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