December at the feeders, and some recent recoveries..

A decent day on Tuesday 3rd, so Jeremy and Jerry took advantage for a session at the hut feeders. The "Lake level" had gone down c 6" in the last week, and the feeder net lanes had only puddles of water now, though they quickly got very muddy. After four hours the catch was 20 + (18) with just one net, comprising Blackbird (1), Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 3 + (11) (most were adults suggesting a poor breeding season, as reported by other ringers), Great Tit 2 + (5), Chaffinch 2, and Greenfinch 12 + (1).

The following Wednesday also saw good weather, so Andy and Jerry did WRP in the 3rd visit period, but as Andy had been away for a couple of days the feeders had run dry and most birds had gone elsewhere. The catch was just 3 + (3), so we may have to "downgrade" the session to another "extra visit", with a new visit 3 undertaken in the next week when we might get a more productive session. The mix was made up of Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit 1 + (2), and Greenfinch 1.

Another prolonged storm period (Darragh) then set in, with the next ringing opportunity on Thursday 12th when Andy and Jerry did the replacement WRP 3 visit. They had a catch of 19 + (24) on a cold morning with brisk catching. The mix was Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 + (1) - the 7th ringed at Andy's garden since October, Robin (1), Dunnock (1), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit 8 + (12), Great Tit 4 + (6),Goldfinch 5 + (1), and Greenfinch 1 + (1).

On the cold sunny morning of Saturday 14th, Jerry tried a net at the hut feeders for a couple of hours, but the catch was disappointing at just 2 + (7). The mix was Robin (1), Dunnock (1), Cettis Warbler (1), Goldcrest 1, Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (1), and Bullfinch 1 + (1).

The next visit was Friday 27th, with Andy and Jerry completing WRP visit 4. It was a cold, misty morning (+ 1C rising to + 3C) and involved frequent net visits. The catch was a modest 15 + (21), made up of Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Dunnock 1, Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit 6 + (16) - predominantly adults, Great Tit 1 + (2), House Sparrow 3, and Greenfinch 4, - one of which appeared to be showing some lethargy, maybe an early indication of "Trich".

On Saturday 28th, in a repeat of the previous day's weather conditions, Jeremy and Jerry tried the hut feeders, but the catching was slower. In total just 7 + (5) birds comprising Robin 1, Blue Tit (2), Great Tit (2), Treecreeper (1), Chaffinch 4 (plus an extra bird with scaly legs which wasn't ringed), Greenfinch 1, and Bullfinch 1.

During December we ringed only 66 birds, our third lowest December catch in the last 20 years, making our annual total 1765 (lowest since 2012 - mainly due to lack of goose ringing, generally a poor breeding season, and frequent poor "ringing" weather.

Recoveries -

Belgium ringed Reed Warbler 17702715 (the first Belgium ring we have had at Llangorse) - was ringed on 14 July 2023 at Wignene, West-Vlaaderen, Belgium as an adult, and was caught (by JL) in rb2 on 26 June 2024, (sexed as a breeding male with CP) and again on 30 June 2024. 348/352 days, 461 km, 282 degrees.

Canada Goose 5266229 was ringed as an adult on 30 June 2013, and the ring was found at Pembridge, Herefordshire on 21 December 2024 - 4172 days, 40 Km, 39 degrees.

Canada Goose 5284574 was ringed as an adult on 24 June 2018, and was shot at Dryslwyn, Carmarthenshire on 1 December 2024 - 2372 days, 60 Km, 262 degrees.