Welsh Ornithological Society / BTO / RSPB conference

Saturday 16th November saw the 30th Anniversary Conference of the Welsh Ornithological Society at the University of Aberystwyth. It was a huge success, with almost 150 delegates attending, including an encouraging number of talented young ornithologists.

Tony Cross was presented with the society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his long term work on key Welsh species. His roll of honour is too long for this post but for those who don’t know Tony is renowned and respected for his expertise and knowledge gained from many long term ringing programmes. The go-to man for Red Kites, Barn Owls, Chough, Curlew, Dippers, Hawfinches, Pied Flycatchers, Kestrels, Ravens, terns, swans, Woodcock, and Nightjars across Wales.

 Jack Devlin of Cardiff University received the Student Award for his well-researched and highly topical work on Pheasants and their impact on invertebrate communities in upland Wales.

The presentations were worthy of such a special occasion, with Iolo Williams reflecting on the past 30 years of birds in Wales and gazing into his crystal ball for possible scenarios for the next 30 years – not all doom and gloom, but the threats to wildlife are all too evident and present.

Tim Birkhead presented outcomes from one of the country’s longest running studies – 47 years of Guillemots on Skomer – and did his best to convince us that Guillemots were far more lovable and interesting than Puffins!  I now know why a Guillemots egg is shaped as it is. Although it’s almost invidious to identify one single highlight from the conference, the mixture of poetry, passion and good science in Mary Colwell’s presentation on Saving Curlews will live long in the memory of all who were fortunate enough to hear and see this.

In the afternoon, an innovative feature was Question Time, chaired by Steffan Messenger, BBC Environment Correspondent, featuring a panel of Katie-Jo Luxton (Wales RSPB Director), Andy Clements (BTO Chief Executive) and Mark Isherwood (AM and active species champion for Curlew) and pertinent and topical questions from the audience. The final session of the day was presented by Steve Stansfield, Warden of Bardsey BO, enthralling us with highlights of the changing seasons on this magical island. Has anyone in the audience actually seen 365 Grasshopper Warblers, let alone all in one day!

The presentations, more photos and news from the day will be on the WOS website shortly. Next year’s conference will be held in the south west of Wales and it will be some job to keep the quality of the speakers up.

Many thanks to Bob Haycock for the photos

Welsh Ringing Course, September 6-9, 2019 A trainee’s view

                                      Members of the course trapped over 500 birds during the weekend

   It is 11pm on the first night of the course, and our group is already out on the wild and remote Gower coast, with far-reaching views to the lighthouse on Lundy, and the waterfront at Llanelli. We are getting a lesson in dazzling waders.

We take it in turns individually to go out with Tony Cross, one of the UK’s most experienced lampers, and a man rumoured to ring at least one bird every day of his life.

In a couple of hours we net 32 birds: Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Sanderling.

Given a surfeit of enthusiasm, we have some difficulty persuading Tony to stop. Only the prospect of an early start in the morning eventually forces us home, after a cracking start to the weekend.

                                              A young Grey Wagtail caught at Oxwich on the course

Next morning we start mist-netting on Oxwich Marsh, a mixed scrub and reed site which yields a good variety of warblers, finches and pipits.

Among the top species were 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 11 Stonechats, 3 House Martins and no less than 7 Tree Pipits. Later we catch some 50 Swallows and Wagtails at an evening roost.

One of the biggest revelations for me personally was the use of spring traps, baited with meal worms.

Martin Thomas rings a good proportion of all the Meadow Pipits ringed in Wales using this method, and he demonstrated just how effective they can be. Over 2 afternoons he caught 15 Rock Pipits in a small coastal cove, which was a new species for all of us trainees.

In poor weather, or for a C permit holder without a mist net endorsement, these traps provide an excellent alternative.

                                              A Rock Pipit caught with a spring trap

We were lucky with the weather, and caught a little over 500 birds in total, so the trainees got to process an average of around 50 birds each. One of our team managed 10 new species!  (see totals below).

That having been said, this course has consistently caught reasonable numbers of birds, even when the weather has not been so kind. Wader dazzling and spring traps provide flexibility if it is wet or windy – which in September is a greater risk.

Last but not least, course organiser Kelvin Jones sends out a brilliant after-care package, containing tips on ageing and moult, and a series of quizzes, certain to cause hours of debate over a pint.

If you are looking to choose a course, here’s why you should consider this one:

1.      The philosophy is about learning and having fun. It is distinctly non-competitive and friendly. So no one is going to shout at you for making a mistake. It feels genuinely inclusive, with equal numbers of male and female participants.

2.      There are only ten trainees on the course, divided into two groups of five, which means an excellent teacher/pupil ratio.

3.      You will be on the Gower Peninsular, a spectacular part of the country. The 2019 course attracted attendees from as far away as Norfolk, Liverpool and Yorkshire

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4.      If the weather is bad, there are alternatives to mist netting.

5.      The ringing programme is brilliantly organised by Owain Gabb, with help from lots of Gower Ringing Group field assistants, who open the nets, do all the scribing etc. Martin Hughes from Northumberland and Justin Walker from the BTO were excellent tutors

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6.      Accommodation is in bunk beds indoors. Mostly dormitories, but some smaller rooms are also available. Basic comfort, but great if you don’t fancy camping. Breakfast and dinner included, for a very reasonable cost

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7.      The Gower Inn is 60 seconds walk from the accommodation. What’s not to like??

Brian Milligan, course participant

Species Name	Ringed	Recapt	Total
Blackbird	8	6	14
Blackcap	65	1	66
Blue Tit	32	33	65
Bullfinch	1		1
Cetti's Warbler	3	5	8
Chaffinch	3		3
Chiffchaff	29	1	30
Coal Tit	1	1	2
Dunlin	7		7
Dunnock	8	7	15
Garden Warbler	1		1
Goldcrest	6		6
Goldfinch	1		1
Grasshopper Warbler	2		2
Great Spotted Woodpecker		1	1
Great Tit	10	9	19
Greenfinch	23		23
Grey Wagtail	6		6
House Martin	3		3
Long-tailed Tit	7	5	12
Pied/White Wagtail	11		11
Reed Bunting	4		4
Reed Warbler	18	3	21
Ringed Plover	11		11
Robin	14	9	23
Rock Pipit	13	2	15
Sand Martin	1		1
Sanderling	1		1
Sedge Warbler	12	1	13
Song Thrush	1		1
Stonechat	11		11
Swallow	59		59
Tree Pipit	7		7
Turnstone	13		13
Whitethroat	6	3	9
Willow Warbler	9		9
Wren	10	8	18
Grand Total	417	95	512