Thursday 11 September 2014

Living in a box...

we're living in a cardboard box.... 


A small proportion of the 58 waders dazzled last night at Ynyslas

but only temporarily!  Last night was one of those rare occasions when we managed to dazzle enough waders at Ynyslas that it necessitated taking them off to ring and process in an easier and more comfortable location than the car-park, complete with copious supplies of tea and good lighting (both increasingly important with advancing age!). The birds once ringed and processed are placed temporarily in large cardboard boxes (with ample breathing holes!)  before being returned to the beach as soon as they are all done.


It also allows for a closer  examination and appreciation of the more exciting members of the catch such as this juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, one of the two seen during the evening.


Always nice to see a white rump amongst all the Dunlin!

On the last set of high tides a fortnight ago we ringed just short of 200 Dunlin in four nights - exceptional by Ynyslas standards but not totally unexpected for new moon high tides at this time of the year. Last night with a glaring full moon and no cloud cover whatsoever we 'dazzled' 55 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 1 Redshank and 1 Curlew Sandpiper. I have rarely seen so many small waders on the strand line at Ynyslas and have never caught so well under those conditions so I will definitely be heading back for another go this evening before all the birds push through to winter quarters as far south as Mauritania and beyond?

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