We managed two sessions at Oxwich in late November, one on 23rd and one on 29th. On both days we had very light winds, enabling us to set nets in some more open areas than we usually try. The combined … Read More
A weekend the forecasters got (very) wrong. The very light winds failed to materialise, and instead we got a moderate north-easterly and easterly breeze that blew the nets around and limited our catch. The catch was, nevertheless very varied, as … Read More
It was one of those occasional days when the weather turns out better than the marginal forecast. The predicted light to moderate north-westerly wind took a long while to get going, early rain disappeared, and mid-morning showers failed to materialise. … Read More
Limited expectations were the order of the day due to the forecast of a moderate north-westerly wind, a bad direction for the marsh. In reality, however, it was still at dawn and the wind only picked up from 09:00. We … Read More
In early September we were paid a visit by Renaud Flamant, the European colour-ringing co-ordinator for Mediterranean gull. Renaud’s itinerary included a couple of days in Gower, a brief stop in Carmarthenshire and a visit to Ceredigion. His plan was … Read More
A couple of weekends of average to poor weather, with wind speed limiting the catch. On 12 September we split our effort, with Jo Conway assisting Wayne Morris with his Retrapping Adults for Survival project on dipper in the Valleys, … Read More
Sunday was again the better day of the weekend wind-wise. There was a light west north-westerly breeze that gradually strengthened over the morning, short-lived very light early showers and a rather pleasant sunrise. The marsh was quiet in terms of … Read More
A weekend of light to moderate northerly winds and open skies. Northerly weather in autumn is typically associated with low numbers of migrants in the marsh, and the weekend seemed to bear this out. The working theory as to why … Read More
A frustrating couple of weeks of consistent unsettled (and often very windy / rainy) weather, some of which has been courtesy of Storm Ellen. Just what you don’t need after an unplanned break of four months, and in one of … Read More
Although the Group had managed to complete a few Constant Effort Site sessions since Welsh Covid restrictions were eased, we had not restarted ringing at Oxwich. Over four months without a visit had seen reed, bracken and bramble start to … Read More
Following over four weeks of terrible weather (apparently the wettest February on record), it was good to at last get a ringing session in. The conditions were not ideal, so we went to our most sheltered site, near Pwll Du … Read More
A blog post by Amy Schwartz. Looking to gain additional ringing experience as I work towards a C permit, I got in contact with experienced Wiltshire-based ringer Matt Prior at the suggestion of my trainer, Owain Gabb, and we arranged … Read More