Devon and Cornwall Wader Ringing Group

setting mist nets - Tim Frayling.jpg
High Tide 3.72m @ 18:26, Sunset 16:47

We carried out a mist-netting session at Exminster Marshes, catching and ringing 18 Dunlin, a Lapwing, a Teal and a Common Gull. The Dunlin were all colour-ringed as part of our ongoing project to study their use of the Exe Estuary and surrounding land. Full report to follow.

 

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

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