Mist-netting - Exminster Marshes - Saturday 13th January 2024
High Tide 3.82m @ 20:19, Sunset 16:09, Rendezvous 15:30
A mixed experience team of 10 assembled at 15:30pm at RSPB Exminster Marshes to set nets around the RSPB lagoon field, on the highest tide of the new moon sequence. It took a while to assemble the team with congestion in the canalside car park, and some team members having advised of late arrivals due to other commitments.
There was a bit more of a northerly breeze than forecast, but it was overcast and the wind was forecast to drop. Based on previous successes this winter, a line of 3 large mesh nets were set on each bund and a line of five 3-panel wader nets were set across the central pool in the same location as in November and December. Water levels were high, and some ares of the main pool were only just navigable in wellies. All nets were set by 16:45 and the team retreated to set up the ringing base and wait for darkness.
Setting mist-nets on Exminster Marshes © P Perrins
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed | GPS tagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redshank | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mist-netting - Exminster Marshes - Friday 15th December 2023
High Tide 3.69m @ 20:22, Sunset 16:09, Rendezvous 14:30
A small team of 9 assembled at 14:30pm at RSPB Exminster Marshes to set around the RSPB lagoon field pools and in King’s Field for a target of Curlew to which to fit satellite tags.
Weather conditions were ideal, 6 degrees with no wind at all 0-5mph, no moon and limited to partial cloud by the end of the session. Continuing wet weather meant pools in RSPB fields were higher than in November and there were several larger pools all wellie height within King’s Field next door.
With a slightly larger and more experienced team nets were set in two locations. A line of 3 large mesh nets were set on each bund in the RSPB fields plus a line of 5 x 3 panel wader nets across the central pool in the same location as November, with these being set by the majority of the team lead by Chris.
In King's Field Ryan and Robbie set two lots of nets, both over water, one longer dogleg of 3 x 18m 2 panel wader nets over the main pool and a single 18m net over a smaller pool nearer the field entrance. Ellie on arrival placed out a selection of Curlew decoys around both net sets in King’s field.
A total net set of 15 nets; 4 in King's field was all set by 16:05pm and 11 in RSPB fields by 16:50pm just as the light started to fade.
Set mist-nets at Exminster Marshes King's Field © R Phillips
Setting mist-nets at Exminster Marshes RSPB Fields © R Phillips
Setting mist-nets at Exminster Marshes RSPB Fields © R Phillips
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed | GPS tagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curlew | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| Dunlin | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Grey Plover | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snipe | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Redshank | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Rail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mallard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mist-netting - Exminster Marshes - Wednesday 15th November 2023
High Tide 3.76m @ 19:51, Sunset 16:28, Rendezvous 15:00
A small team of 6 assembled at 3pm at RSPB Exminster Marshes to set around the RSPB lagoon field pools. Weather conditions were ideal, with no wind at all 0-2mph, no moon and part to full cloud. Pools were high following a prolonged wet and stormy period but set locations could still be fully accessed with wellies only, just! On arrival a while was spent helping the RSPB wardens move cows out of the field. The 15 cows we has been informed were on site, turned out to be 30 and despite some effort any attempt to move them to a different field failed. Based on this the decision was made to just set one line of 5 full-height 3 panel wader nets across the main pool in a single line running perpendicular to the train line. This was a third of the usual number due to the smaller team size and reluctance to set on either bund due to the cattle. With these all over water, it was hoped the cows would not venture near. All nets were set by 16:30 and the field vacated.
Set mist-nets at Exminster Marshes as the sun sets © R Phillips
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed | GPS tagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlin | 64 | 0 | 1 | 65 | 0 |
| Redshank | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turnstone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mist-netting - Exminster Marshes - Saturday 25th February 2023
High Tide 3.51m @ 22:13, Sunset 17:47, Rendezvous 16:15
We assembled a team with a range of experience at RSPB Exminster Marshes, in slightly breezy, but overcast conditions for an evening wader mist net catch. Following a dry February, the pools were not as full as previously, there was plenty of shallow water to attract birds pushed off the estuary by the rising tide. We set 9 full-height wader nets across the main pool and 6 large mesh three-panel nets along the bunds, retiring to the ringing base as the sun set.
Setting mist-nets at Exminster Marshes as the sun sets © R Phillips
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed | GPS tagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redshank | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dunlin | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Snipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mist-netting Background
The use of mist-nets on high tides during the hours of darkness is less selective in which species are caught, but this technique provides us with additional opportunities to catch and ring waders in the region. A mist-net catch can usually be managed with a smaller team and without the need for a specialist cannon net license holder or the preparatory work needed to reconnaisace precise roost sites and set cannon nets in advance of the planned catch tide.
Our focus on the Exe estuary is the wintering Oystercatcher population and this species is our primary target for mist-netting as we aim to catch birds flying into the high-tide roosts.
Oystercatchers are faithful to wintering sites so the birds you have seen here years ago may be the same ones now. The oldest Dawlish Warren Oystercatcher on record is at least 36 years old, last seen in Jan 2018.
If you see a bird with one of our colour rings, please use the form on this website to send us the details (ring-code, date, location, species) or you can send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Mist-netting totals
2022-2023 winter totals
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redshank | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dunlin | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Snipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lapwing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Teal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Common Gull | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2023-2024 winter totals
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redshank | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snipe | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curlew | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Dunlin | 70 | 0 | 1 | 71 |
| Grey Plover | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Rail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mallard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turnstone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Grand totals
| Species | Ringed | Retraps | Controls | Colour ringed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redshank | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snipe | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curlew | 30 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Dunlin | 121 | 0 | 1 | 118 |
| Grey Plover | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Rail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mallard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turnstone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Snipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lapwing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Teal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Common Gull | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oystercatcher | 48 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Woodcock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Knot | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greenshank | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |