Ringing with FCM

Post date: Feb 5, 2016 4:44:21 PM

My Master student (FCM), who's working on the phylogeography of Reed Buntings (E. schoeniclus), just visited me for two days during which we carried out two ringing sessions at Salreu marshlands, Estarreja, Portugal. The weather has been great, though there was some ice early in the morning, with temperatures raising to c.17-19ºC. By using three 15m nets and four "singles", we trapped the following birds:

Aegithalus caudatus 1

Anthus spinoletta 1

Cettia cetti 3 (2)

Emberiza schoeniclus 38 (1)

Erithacus rubecula 1

Luscinia svecica 1

Passer montanus 1

Phylloscopus collybita 6 (1)

Saxicola rubicola 1

The only E. schoeniclus lusitanica caught this year; an unusual straight-billed bird presumed to be an old female with male-like plumage.

The greyish colour around in the head/throat is an artefact caused by shrinking the picture.

An adult female Bluethroat

A second-year Water Pipit

An adult female Stonechat. The greyish colour an artefact caused by shrinking the picture.

The Booted Eagle (Aquila penata) turned up again on both days, and so did a few Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) an adult female Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and a Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinelus). Also saw for the first time this year three Red-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica) and a Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus). It all felt very springy!

JMN