decemberces

Cold and slow - Start of dry season Constant Effort Site ringing

The last 5 days has witnessed very little bird activity around our nets, the APLORI CES has generally been slow. This morning the CES will come to an end with a last session at ACESB, so far only 80 new birds of 32 species and 45 retraps of 24 species have been processed within the last five days. I hope we find a little bit more birds this morning!  We have recorded 4 palearctic migrant species; the Common White-throat, Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit and Eurasian Wryneck. Unlike in October no Garden warblers have been trapped, they have consumed our Lantana camara and probably have gone further south, I hope Samtee will be looking out for them when he travels south again.  The retraps have been particularly interesting with three palearctic migrants from previous years, all three have been exciting in some way but one with a notable thrill is an adult Pied flycatcher from January of 2011; this bird has made three trips to Nigeria, minimum of seven flights across the Sahara in the last three years. The Eurasian Wryneck and the Common White-throat have proved some considerable site fidelity; I hope they don't only return to the reserve next year but to the nets. 

I hope we find some interesting stuff later in the day before the nets return to the bags. Next year will be chasing after the Bulbuls; I really hope they cooperate! 

Seasons greeting and See in the New Year :)

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!