Have just had a text from Arfon Williams. The Turnstone Sarah and I caught wearing a BTO ring was ringed by him on 18th December 2009 close to where it was re-trapped. Although not as interesting as it might have been, it still demonstrates how many of our winter visiting waders are extremely faithful to their particular "patches" - knowing an area intimately can make the difference between life and death in bad weather.
A quick trip out last night produced 6 more colour-ringed Golden Plovers (plus 1 ring read on a bird not caught), 1 Woodcock, 1 Skylark and a Jack Snipe. The total of Jack Snipe is now 19, just one short of our best year ever for this species. It has clearly been a very good breeding season for Jack Snipe and Snipe, we must have flushed well over 60 Snipe last night but didn't catch a single one!
I reckon it would be worth putting some mist nets up in the '2 crosses' field!! Great catch again tho :)
ReplyDeleteCheers mate, most of the Snipe were actually in the fields above Llanbadarn Fynydd but reckon you're right, would be well worth a go when/if the wind stops!
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