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.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
|
