Sunday 18th September 2016

In deepest Swindon town...

Well on the fringes at least... I was back with the North Wilts Ringing Group for my annual meeting with my mentor, old Prior.. it was good to see he's still the same as ever!
He had prepared for this morning session last night. and while doing so caught a JACK SNIPE, the site is known for these diminutive wintering waders, and the 17th September was the earliest capture date.

Jack Snipe, (photograph taken at Oxwich NNR 2015)

With almost the full, Matt Prior, team out just Simon was missing it was great to see how much the lads Biff and Noah have continued to improve, as always the craic was up to its usual standards.

With Anna and Paul W also out as well as Noah's mum who was scribing the team was set for what turned out to be a classic autumn ringing session.

As usual Matt had some billy bonus net set and typically there were some interesting non-passerines to process.

Common Snipe, a bird of the year (3) based on median covert pattern,

flushed into the net during a net round

The bulk of the catch was Blackcap, with Chiffchaff in very good numbers, a smattering of more usual fare, plus the waders and an immature Teal, brought the numbers in at 312 new birds, 21 re=encountered and a control Blackcap (this is a bird ringed by another ringer at a different site).

Blackcap, bird of the year BTO code 3,

♂moulting from a brown head into a black cap!

I really love ringing at the Swindon Lagoons reserve, hard to believe its an old sewage works. It really shows the effort that Matt puts into this reserve and the  team when only one person in the group hadn't ringed either Teal or Common Snipe!!!

Green Sandpiper, an adult bird,(4), based on the shape of the 2nd primary, (broad and blunter than a younger bird),  the pattern of the tertials and median coverts. Green Sandpipers show great site fidelity,

so this bird  will probably spend the winter around the reserve and the working water treatment works.