Canada Goose roundup and Jetty RAS

The forecast for Sunday 26th June was not good, but it gradually improved as the day approached.  It finally predicted heavy rain from 15.00 hrs, giving just enough time for us to finish (if everything went to plan).  The rain did in fact mainly hold off, though a light shower mid session caused some problems for the scribes.  This didn't effect the ringing, and actually helped to keep the birds cool.  

Thanks to all the canoeists - Pete Slater & family, Bob Medland, and members of the Aberfan and WyeDean Canoe Clubs.  In total some 30 canoes, without whose help the roundup wouldn't take place.  They did well to navigate a route through the sail boats, as Llangorse Sailing Club were holding their own event that morning (hopefully without disrupting the event too much).  Also thanks to Garnet Davies, of Llangorse Lake Holidays (for allowing the canoes to launch), and to the farmer, Clive Jones (for allowing access to the field).  

We ringed 250 geese, and captured a further 224 that already had rings (just one had not been ringed at the Lake).  Some 80 birds (including the creche) were not rounded up, about 30 escaped, and 19 were released (when we ran out of rings).  

The ringed birds were from 2006 (1), 2007 (7), 2008 (6), 2009 (6), 2010 (3), 2011 (9), none from 2012 (as no catch that year), 2013 (35), 2014 (59) and 2015 (97).  

A large team of 32 ringers were involved in what was the usual "slick operation".  A further eight friends, or canoeists, also helped with carrying birds, and even fitted a few rings under supervision - all good PR for the Ringing Scheme.  Peter & George were in the pen, Ruth & Jerry were recording the details, and Bob Webber/Alan Ashmen (from Chew Valley Ringing Station) did the weighing - Chew loaned most of their equipment. The only hiccup, on the day, was that one of the birds had been double ringed, first in 2014, the second ring in 2015.  

Finally on leaving the field, Bob managed to get his car bogged down in a wet area (where a water pipe had leaked), those that hadn't already left, eventually managed to tow and push it to drier ground, after unloading all the heavy equipment.

The forecast for 28th was for rain arriving mid/late morning, so Jerry opted for a short session at the jetty (rather than trying rb2 or the garden).  It was still very quiet, with no juvenile Reed Warbler.  It looks like the adults are dispersing from their territories after a poor breeding season.  Some 500 Sand Martin were feeding low over the reeds for the first hour, and without the few that were caught, the day total would not have reached double figures.  

The disappointing 13 + (5) was made up of 7 Sand Martin, (1) Sedge Warbler, 5 + (4) Reed Warbler and 1 Blue Tit.