A better Sand Martin catch (5 controls + REEBU control!!!)

On Saturday night Iain and a few of the ringing group arranged to meet up to have a larger and more prepared attempt at the Sand Martin roost down in the UEA reedbed. They put nets up in all 3 areas where we have seen them go to roost and were successful catching 42 new Sand Martins and 5 controls! They also caught 2 new Reed Buntings and 1 control! and 2 long-taild Tits. (Photos stolen from Karl's facebook, hope you dont mind Karl...)

Controls were as follows:

Sand Martin

L435188
X118157
X118199
X118261
V506471 (caught last week)

Reed Bunting

T385217

Surprise Sand Martin catch - including control V506471

Control Sand Martin V506471, UEA 13/04/2011

So, popped down the UEA marsh with Will this evening to move some net poles to the reedbed in preparation for some warbler catches and hopefully some roosting sand martins in the weeks to come. There were actually quite a few sedges warblers in and a few reed bunts kicking around so I ran back to the car and grabbed a couple of nets and the ringing gear. Just as we finished setting up, ringed a sedgie, then noticed a small flock of sand martins - great they're in. Stuck on the tape and over the next 20 mins the flock grew to 300 strong! We caught a measly 17 birds out of the 300 (I say measly but its the most we've caught on campus in the last 5 years I think). Also one was a control V506471.


Myself and Iain also ringed a nest of 4 Blackbird chicks this morning as well as finding a further 4 Blackbird nests, 1 robin nest (2 day old chicks) and 2 Song Thrush (1 eggs, 1 young chicks).