Not a Stormie

In 2015 we caught a wren among the bracken - BCK726, a juvenile, 3J - on the 13th August. Stefan recaught it this year, 5th July, after spending a winter and 327 days on the island.

Stormies that became Barn Owl fodder.

Following examination of all of the Barn Owl pellets collected off the island the following rings from these individuals were found.

2601039 ringed 2005 (4035 days)
2658382 ringed 2010 (2190 days)
2659456 ringed2011 (1825 days)
2668849 ringed 2013 (1120 days)
2718329 ringed 2015 (383 days)
2669159 ringed 2016 (24 days)

Obviously the Barn Owl is not discriminatory regarding the age of its prey.

A non Stormie recovery

BCK726, a Nan Ron wren - in deference to a Fair Isle wren - caught as a 3J (juvenile hatched that year) in 2015. Recaptured alive and well on Nan Ron on 5th July, 327 days later.

A new control

2696772
Ringed ENR 28.07.2014
Controlled Lunga, Treshnish Isles, Argyll & Bute 26.06.2016
699days 262km 209deg

Controls.

These are birds either ringed elsewhere and recaught on Nan Ron, or birds ringed on Nan Ron and caught somewhere else.

2696580
Ringed ENR 28.07.2014
Controlled Fair Isle, Shetland 15.08.2016
749days, 190km, 55degrees

2717137
Ringed ENR 10.08.2015
Controlled Bewan, North Ronaldsay, Orkney 15.07.2016
340days, 146km, 51 degrees

The following six birds were all controlled on ENR in August 2016. These are their details of original ringing.

2454338
Ringed 05.08.2012 Duncansby Head, Highland 1457days, 75km, 263deg

2621757
Ringed 06.08.2015 Scurdie Ness, Angus 362days, 235km, 332deg

2712737
Ringed 17.06.2016 Priest Island, Highland 46days, 97km, 47deg

2718525
Ringed 09.07.2016 Eilean An Taighe, Western Isles 24days, 140km, 58deg

2559084
Ringed 28.07.2016 Fife Ness, Crail, Fife 5days, 275km, 338deg

2594175
Ringed 30.07.2016 Faraid Head, Highland 33days, 27km, 103deg

...and there's more.

These are retraps generated by Stefan's visit in early July.

2608101 ringed 30.07.2006, recaptured 04.07.2016 3627 days old.
2611701 ringed 23.07.2007, recaptured 04.07.2016 3269 days old.

One bird from 2010 ?where are the rest?
2658426 ringed 20.07.2010, so 2177 days old at least.

Four birds were caught originally ringed in 2011 making them c1800 days old.
Two birds from 2012, c1440 days old, four from 2013 (1046-1070 days old), ten from 2014 (704-708 days) and nineteen from 2015 (326-330 days old).

In addition (this year) we caught two birds from the Bache partnership, which they originally ringed in 2015 and another five from their visit earlier this year. We also recaptured two birds that Stefan had ringed this year.

Recoveries

A picture to start, black and white to add a bit of atmosphere if any is needed.

Forty-three retrap notifications were received following the visit to ENR of the Bache, Shearwood and McShane partnership.
From these 2608968 was the oldest being a bird originally ringed in 2007 (3274 days old). Next were two birds each from the years 2009, 2011 and 2012 making them 2536, 1803 and 1445 days old respectively. Interestingly no birds were retrapped from 2010.
There were fifteen retraps from birds originally ringed in 2014 with ages from 709-713 days. Not surprisingly there were 21 retraps of birds from 2015 - 329-336 days old.

Eilean An Taighe (and Moussa) recoveries

Four controls received, all from Eilean An Taigue, Western Isles, controlled this year.

2716386 ENR 13.08.2015 controlled on Taigue 05.07.2016, 327days, 140km, 238deg
2696817 ENR 28.07.2014 controlled same day as above, 708days

2716180 ENR 13.08.2015 controlled Taigue 06.07.2016, 328days

2659323 ENR 02.08.2011 controlled on Taigue 09.07.2016, 1803days

There is one record of a bird found dead on North Isle, Moussa, Shetland on 02.08.2016 - reasons unknown. This bird was ringed on ENR on 25.07.2012 making it >1469 days old (240km, 48deg)

2016 visit

One word denotes this year's visit - Frustration.
The travel up on Saturday for everyone was fine, the weather was good and traffic light. After that the downhill slope started.
The planned crossing for Sunday was postponed due to high winds and a choppy sea. Meeting up again on Monday a 'lumpy' crossing was possible and we all were safely placed onto the island by midday. That night off 2 x 60ft nets were caught 227 new Stormies, three known retraps and 14 UK controls. We packed up early due to unseasonally low temperatures - we were all freezing.
Tuesday was a wonderful day, blue skies, sunshine and light winds, well, at least until late afternoon. Winds were shifting through NW to NE, they started to pick-up, clouds appeared, and rain was in the air. The rain started in earnest at about 9.30pm and continued virtually continuously with varying severity until 3am. So, a lost night of ringing.
The following day witnessed half of our number depart the island to appointments elsewhere - this was planned for some but opportunity grasped by others due to the unpredictability of the weather (better to go now than much much later than expected). They managed to get off in a moderate swell - and saw a Sooty Shearwater during the crossing in compensation.
Those that were left planned to ring that night but an 11pm cancellation resulted due to fog laced with heavy drizzle, rising winds and falling temperatures. The resulting intermittent inclement weather had everyone confined to tents for most of the day. That night, our last night, we managed to get one 60 foot net up for three hours and caught 44 new, three retraps and one control. We closed at 2am as we were due to depart the island the following morning.
Our final figures for the visit were 271new, six retraps and 15 controls. In addition we recaptured three Bonxies, found one dead and ringed another three. One meadow pipit, a nest record card for one swallow and 22 Fulmar and two complete Birdtrack lists were completed.

 This is as good as the weather got. Given we have had so many successful visits of late we were well overdue for some Frustration. Planning for next year is already underway.

Recoveries even before we've gone.

No sooner have you posted one entry you have to post another!

Recoveries - all from Hugh Insley from birds recaptured on Priest Island, Highlands (so all will be 96km on a heading of 226degrees).

These three from recaptures on17.06.2016.
2681495 Ringed ENR 26.07.2012 = 1422days
2716190 Ringed ENR 13.08.2015 = 309 days
2716191 Ringed ENR 13.08.2015 = 309 days

These three from recaptures on17.06.2016.
2658202 Ringed ENR 30.07.2009 = 2516 days
(that's six years eleven months)
2696871 Ringed ENR 29.07.2014 = 691 days
2700865 Ringed ENR 10.08.2015 = 314 days

2016 visitation.

Been a bit remiss in updating the blog of late, especially to advertise this year's visit. Well, we're going. This year the intention is to travel on Saturday 30th July transferring to the island on Sunday 31st. Depending on weather etc the intention would be to come off on Friday.
We haven't undertaken a final headcount yet but if anyone would like to come, please ask. We can always fit more people in, especially if you have your own transport to Tongue.
If you want the nuts and blots, planning and pitfalls in order to make a decision phone Kenny on 07946 079177

A lonely recovery

N06005
Ringed as an adult 21.06.2014 at Ponta de Almadena, Faro, Portugal weighing 28.9g
Captured ENR 27.07.2014 weighing 23.4g

a distance of 2411km in 36days.

2016 trip approaches.

Dates for this year: on-island Sunday 31st July, off-island Friday 5th August. So far the participant list numbers ten, so has the makings of a good week. More welcome, especially if they come with their own set of wheels.
We're the last group on this year so good sets of eyes for reading retrap ring numbers in the dark a must - so 'eat more carrots'.