Poor weather has persisted during much of January to date, and we have only been able to get two sessions in. Conversely, when we have got out bird numbers have been good, as the total for what is often an awful month at Oxwich indicates:
|
Species Name
|
Ringed
|
Recaptured
|
Total
|
|
Blackbird
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Blue Tit
|
32
|
111
|
143
|
|
Chaffinch
|
12
|
1
|
13
|
|
Coal Tit
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
|
Dunnock
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
|
Goldcrest
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Goldfinch
|
10
|
1
|
11
|
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker
|
|
5
|
5
|
|
Great Tit
|
1
|
25
|
26
|
|
Greenfinch
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
Jack Snipe
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Long-tailed Tit
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Reed Bunting
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
Robin
|
|
3
|
3
|
|
Siskin
|
20
|
5
|
25
|
|
Snipe
|
11
|
2
|
13
|
|
Song Thrush
|
|
2
|
2
|
|
Sparrowhawk
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Wren
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
Grand Total
|
95
|
169
|
264
|
The highlights have been:
- A jack snipe ringed on 14 January 2018 and recaptured on 20 January 2019. We have now ringed thirty-six jack snipe on the marsh and this is our second between winter recapture of the species.
- A common snipe ringed on 19 November 2017 and recaptured on 20 January 2019. We have ringed 159 snipe on the marsh, with three between winter and seven within winter retraps. The data set that is beginning to emerge for the species shows that birds show both between year site fidelity and remain on the site for considerable periods of the winter.
- A second calendar year male sparrowhawk. We catch the species in most years at Oxwich, but they are not particularly regular in occurrence.
- An influx of siskins mid-month. Siskins are normally absent from Oxwich between late summer / early autumn and late December to mid-January, being present for the remainder of the year. Five of the birds were recaptures from previous years. Their return to the marsh is normally signalled by the feeders starting to empty at twice their normal rate!
Thanks to all who have made it out over the two sessions: Heather Coats, Keith Vaughton, Wayne Morris, Amy Schwartz, Val Wilson, Colin Baker, Dionne Jenkins, Joanne Conway, Sarah Davies, Richard Dann, Alex McCubbin, Kathryn Dunnett and Martin Thomas.
Owain Gabb
21/01/2019
 |
| Jack snipe (Colin Baker) |
 |
| Male siskin. Lack of contrast in the wing indicates it is in at least its third calendar year (Colin Baker) |
 |
| Measuring common snipe bill length (Colin Baker) |
