Nanjizal 2020.

This year's visit was from 26th September - to 3rd October, with Carlton, Jerry, Ron and Warwick some of the regular returnees. Arriving late in the afternoon on Saturday, there was only really any time to have a look through the resting gull flock, finding five colour ringed individuals. Fortunately, high tide coincided with late afternoon, giving them time to return from the morning's ringing, have a cuppa, and then go scanning the gull flock.

Filming for a new series of last of the Summer wine. 

Sunday was a bit breezy, but after a productive first round, catching quietened to produce a respectable total of 114 + (15), the best of which were a Firecrest and a Grasshopper Warbler. The next two days had better catching conditions, and had very similar catches. Monday produced 117 + (45), including 4 + (1) Firecrest, a Yellow-browed Warbler and (2) Grasshopper Warbler, one of which was rather small and had warranted taking a feather sample on first capture (to determine race , and if of eastern origin). Tuesday's total was 108 + (21) with 2 Firecrest.

Potential eastern Grasshopper Warbler

The weather then deteriorated, so any hopes of ringing on Wednesday morning were abandoned. Although the strong winds might have been blown a few seabirds landward, the heavy rain would not have been very comfortable for sea watching. The rain had blown through by late morning, and the wind had eased, so in the hope that some birds had taken refuge in the valley, most of the nets were opened for a couple of hours in the afternoon, but produced just 6 + (9). On Thursday, there was a lull in the wind/heavy rain that was forecast, and the morning produced 44 + (11), including another Grasshopper Warbler. It was clear that most of the birds from the previous few days had left, and there were not many new arrivals.  Friday and Saturday forecasts were again very wet/windy, so the decision was made to return home a day early. The trip turned out to be our least productive (in both numbers ringed and unusual species), but maybe we have been more fortunate with the weather in previous years.

Weekly totals

Despite the relatively "poor" ringing, it meant that (after the first net round), other rounds could be easily undertaken by one person. A "bonus" as those who have been previously, will know how long each round is. The daily scanning through the gull flock was more productive, with 15 sightings of 7 different birds - one Black-headed and six Mediterranean Gulls (details of some still to follow, when received).

adult Black-h Gull - green/white J44C ringed  (chick) Akerhun, Norway 2015 - also seen 2018 & 2019

adult Med Gull - green/white RNIK ringed (chick) Vendee, France 2017 - also seen 2018 & 2019 (also recorded from various sites across Cornwall, once at Cantabria, Spain and back each year at the breeding site in Vendee France)

juv Med Gull - red/white PEPN ringed (chick) 16/06/20 at Kujawsko-Pemorskie, Poland

adult Med Gull - white/black 3FXI ringed (adult) Antwerp, Belgium 2019

Juv Med Gull - white/black 3OLJ ringed (chick) Beveren, Belgium 2020

juv Med Gull - white/black 3PHO ringed (chick) Enkhulzen, Netherlands 2020

adult Med Gull - Yellow/black 2L56 ringed (chick) on 25-Jun-18 at South Binness, Langstone Harbour, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Seen at Plage de Kervigen, Plomodiern, Finistère, FRANCE on 31-12-2019 

Until next year