Tuesday, 28 August 2012
2013
2012 - part 2 - non-Stormies.
When time, energy and inclination permit, we also attempt to catch some of the other birds present on the island. Usually we manage a few juvenile skuas who, although reasonably hidden away, get 'revealed' by over-possessive parents who take to playing aerial chicken with those who venture too close. Additionally, with a glorified fire-guard from Kenny, and some fish from Jeddah/Andy, we have perfected catching adult skua - which can be entertaining for those watching others who are not used to handling such large birds.
Additionally we ringed two wheatear and two Lesser Black-backed gull chicks. An attempt to catch shag was not succesful as there were a) very few b) they were inaccessible c) the breeding season was (apparently) earlier this year.
Alex at one point took himself off and found a Snipe's nest, together with one other chick which was also ringed. Bob, took himself off to the beach and found the long-dead remains of a shag carrying a red darvic - BWH - for which details are awaited.
Additionally nest record cards for 32 Fulmar nests were returned.
Additionally we ringed two wheatear and two Lesser Black-backed gull chicks. An attempt to catch shag was not succesful as there were a) very few b) they were inaccessible c) the breeding season was (apparently) earlier this year.
Alex at one point took himself off and found a Snipe's nest, together with one other chick which was also ringed. Bob, took himself off to the beach and found the long-dead remains of a shag carrying a red darvic - BWH - for which details are awaited.
Additionally nest record cards for 32 Fulmar nests were returned.
2012 - part 1 - Stormies.
A midday passage to the island was brought forward as a 'blow' was expected. So from quayside to island, with three trips, was completed before we were due to start. Tents were erected quickly as large dark clouds started to appear over the horizon threatening rain. Fortunately that was all it turned out to be for the whole of our stay - threatening (but never quiet getting there). The wind however did stay with us for the next 48 hours and generated some thought as to where the nets could be best placed for catching. Indeed for the next three days any sort of boat-landing on the island would have been extremely tricky (and wet) as the swell was well in excess of 14 feet!
The Team this year consisted of twelve - old hands in Tony, Kenny, Bob, Jedda, Andy and Stephen, and then Nan Ron virgins in Allan, Kevin and Paul (from Shropshire) and Alex and Chris (from somewhere off Stephen's list of associates).
The first night Bob took a team of four, and one 60ft net, down on to the slabs, while the rest worked a new site with two sixty foot nets in a gully near the campsite. Although the wind was swirling, and changed direction several times during the night, totals the following morning - for new birds caught only -stood at 190 for the slabs and 87 for the gully, with one Norwegian control.
The following night the whole Team was taken to the Maze. Three nets and two sound systems produced a mere 97 birds as it never really got dark and the birds just ended up dancing around the nets rather than being caught in them.
Night three had the Team split again with four going back to the slabs and the rest working the Maze. A better night all round. On the slabs, from one net, 195 birds resulted, while at the Maze 331 new birds were caught. The final night, as it now our custom, nets were set about the campsite - 276 birds resulted with virtually the last bird of the night being a Portugese control.
Totals for this visit finished at: 1176 new, 62 retraps and 23 controls (including the birds from Norway and Portugal).
The first night Bob took a team of four, and one 60ft net, down on to the slabs, while the rest worked a new site with two sixty foot nets in a gully near the campsite. Although the wind was swirling, and changed direction several times during the night, totals the following morning - for new birds caught only -stood at 190 for the slabs and 87 for the gully, with one Norwegian control.
The following night the whole Team was taken to the Maze. Three nets and two sound systems produced a mere 97 birds as it never really got dark and the birds just ended up dancing around the nets rather than being caught in them.
Night three had the Team split again with four going back to the slabs and the rest working the Maze. A better night all round. On the slabs, from one net, 195 birds resulted, while at the Maze 331 new birds were caught. The final night, as it now our custom, nets were set about the campsite - 276 birds resulted with virtually the last bird of the night being a Portugese control.
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