Something a Bit Different

Some of the Foxglove ringing team (Swaledale Ringing Group) had an opportunity to join in with a cannon netting session at Teeside at the weekend. This is a well practised and licensed method of catching water birds by firing a net out onto the shore. Amongst the birds caught were Teal, Wigeon and Redshank. Once extracted from the net, the birds were held in a custom built run ready to be ringed.

To see and handle different kinds of birds is a valuable training opportunity for the bird ringers. Eric from Teeside Ringing Group explained how the biometrics are measured on the different species. Below Lesley and Eric are ageing a Redshank by its plumage.

Some of the younger members learned how to handle ducks for the first time.

Once the rings had been fitted onto the birds legs they were released back into the wild. One day we might learn where these Wigeon migrate to and how long they live for.  Eleanor won the coveted 'best hat' competition.

As the team were leaving and packing up the equipment, a Snow Bunting was spotted sitting on a dismantled cannon!

Our sincere thanks to Robin and Judith from the Wash Wader Ringing Group and all of the members from the Teeside Ringing Group and East Dales Ringing Group who contributed to the session.

And a final photograph - Sophie waiting patiently with flask and a suspiciously empty cake tin!