A Starry Night and another new Species for the Group (number 105)

After a several unsuccessful lamping attempts (around Llangasty), over the last couple of years, Wednesday the 9th started off a very windy day with full cloud cover, it was looking good for a night out lamping for woodcock. At nightfall the wind dropped and the sky was clear, far from ideal conditions but as the season is almost at an end this could be the last attempt until November.

Carola was keen & I was confident we would see a few at least so I picked up a group ring from the hut and drove around the other side of the lake to meet up. Everything checked and a brief plan was hatched, off we went into the darkness trying not to walk into electric fences or fall down ditches, all good fun and you have to love it more than a warm bed.

The first woodcock was spotted in the second field but this field was so wet it made every step a noisy squelching step and with no wind & clear sky, the bird could fly at any time, we crept closer in the dark willing the bird to stay still, it did and the lamp was soon on it, net was lowered onto the first bird of the night, easy if only they were all like that.

As it turned out it was the only bird caught & ringed but at least a new species for the group and first Woodcock for Carola (I think she was happy, see picture attached).
I am sure we would have caught more as two others were found and got close to but conditions were against us and what we really needed was a night when man or beast likes to stay in and not venture out in horizontal rain and gale force winds, the down side of this being you need two hands to hold the net steady which can be very difficult even impossible on your own.

A further three was seen in the distance but took off long before we could get near, curiously none were seen in the regular places so I am wondering as Woodcock seem pretty field faithful (Tony Cross & Owen Williams have found this, check the Woodcock Network (here) and Ruffled Feathers (here) web site/blog) and we are almost mid March with mild weather all winter, could they have already left us? It would be great if we could tag and follow the migration route of these birds as others have done, maybe a project worth looking into.

So a good night came to an end, a fox was heard calling a field away but was not seen, rabbits were feeding and happily going about their business, a couple of Tawny Owls were heard and a Magpie chattering away around 01:00 maybe it could see the fox working the hedge row beneath the safety of its perch high above, evidence of Badger was seen although this visit none were seen.

Details of the bird;
WOODC 6 194 wing 340gr 22:50
bill=69. tip to nostril=60. tars=45

Got home safe & sound around 03:00 put batteries on charge ready for next time.