A short and unsuccessful session on 11 February, followed by a better session on 16 February. The combined total was as follows:
|
Species Name
|
Ringed
|
Recaptured
|
Total
|
|
Blue Tit
|
13
|
47
|
60
|
|
Chaffinch
|
5
|
5
|
|
|
Coal Tit
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
Dunnock
|
14
|
14
|
|
|
Goldfinch
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
Great Spotted Woodpecker
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
Great Tit
|
4
|
12
|
16
|
|
Greenfinch
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Reed Bunting
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Robin
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
Siskin
|
6
|
8
|
14
|
|
Snipe
|
8
|
8
|
|
|
Wren
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
Grand Total
|
43
|
88
|
131
|
Highlights were:
- Eight new snipe. This takes our total to 21 birds for the year. By this time in 2018 we had captured 23 birds, and in 2017 a total of 18 snipe, so we are on course for another good return. The total number of snipe captured on the marsh now stands at 167.
- Some recaptured between winter birds, including a siskin from 2015 and dunnocks, blue and great tits from 2014 onward.
- Our first bird with signs of breeding in 2019. A dunnock on 16 February had started developing brood patch.
Far better news than all of the above, however, was an email confirming Wayne Morris had been awarded his A Permit. With half of the Ringing Trainers in Wales, current and former ringing committee members, and two BTO staff members all formally supporting the application, it did seem likely to be an uncontroversial one. However, it was good to see it formally signed off.
Since he joined Gower Ringing Group back in 2014 Wayne has been a real stalwart. He has contributed in many ways: through mentoring trainees; hard work around the site (including making feeders and a duck trap); and (not least) through contributing positively to what tends to be a very happy team. He is also clearly a very capable ringer and birder, who brings with him a very good insight into BTO priorities and targets through his work as a BTO regional representative.
Wayne’s achievement takes us up to seven A permit holders within Gower Ringing Group.
Thanks to Heather Coats, Val Wilson, Joanne Conway, Alex McCubbin, Richard Dann, Dionne Jenkins, Colin Baker and Martin Georgiev for company and assistance over the two sessions.
Owain Gabb
18/02/2019
 |
| Second calendar year male greenfinch |
