23/06 Woodspeen Sand Martin Bank

Location: Woodspeen Sand Martin Bank
Session: 23-Jun-2016 19:00 to 20:45hrs
Headlines: The "shoreline" immediately in front of the face of the bank is to narrow to erect nets on due to the anti-stoat wire along the top. This rather limits the capture as most fly over the top of the nets. Before we arrived John saw a Hobby go through which caused panic among the Sand Martins. We estimated that at least 60 were present at the colony. It was an enjoyable evening with just 12 Sand martins captured; on the equivalent visit last year we had 30, in 2014 we didn’t ring until July. In keeping with most years here we capture an unexpected species, this year a Sedge Warbler. A Kestrel dived into the net after prey but escaped before we could get to it. The guidelines say that peak capture is usually in July with juveniles as well as adults will be captured, however ten of the twelve captured were juveniles suggesting that fledging may be early this year. It recommended that each ringing session is at least two weeks apart so the next session will be later in the week commencing 4th July.
Weather: mostly over cast with some sunny periods, calm with occasional gusts.
Present: JL, IW, DL, SC, GB, RJC
Nets: 36Metres in one ride, 2.5m from face of bank water between.
Lure (none):
Capture (New/Recapture)13 : 13/0 Sand martin 12/0 Sedge Warbler 1/0
Recaptures: none
Age Range: all juveniles except adults: Sand Martin 2 Sedge Warbler 1

Sand Martin: adult left Juvenile right (light brown margins to feathers)