Sunday 31st July 2016

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Autumn must be on the way.....






Cool misty morning at Pembrey Burrows & Saltings Local Nature Reserve

Yesterday (Saturday) evening I decided it was time to go and try and catch some of the 1000+ Swallows and sand Martins which are roosting in the reed bed at the Pembrey Burrows reserve. It was a lovely evening and I did manage to ring 65 Barn Swallows and Two Sand martins along with a few Reed and Sedge Warblers.

Barn Swallow, this is a bird hatched this year, look at the pale forehead!

measuring the wing of Barn Swallow,
wing length is one of several "biometrics" taken during the ringing process

This morning I was on the reserve at 04:45hrs with a three net set in the reed and scrub areas, again a successful morning.


The ringing totals for the two sessions is as follows.

Barn Swallow 65,
Sand Martin 2,
Sedge Warbler 9
Reed Warbler 7
Willow Warbler 1
Blackcap 1
Common Whitethroat 3
Robin 2
Goldfinch 1
Blue Tit 1
Total 93 birds ringed.

I also saw a Sparrowhawk kill a Blackbird, but the non-ringing highlight was the first Northern Wheatear of the Autumn a nice female/immature bird.

Now I'm going for a lie down....

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