Raptor Ringing Bonanza

The 7^th of June is a day to remember.  Raptor Ringing.  Can having this much fun really be considered work, research, and training?  I can only hope it will become a monthly institution.  Our fantastic four, headed again by Mark Brown of course, travelled a 200km circuit of the Karkloof to count, trap, and ring whichever raptors were en route.  Typically roadside raptors, of the sort that drop on to their rodent prey from suitably positioned power poles and fence posts - seen during the day were Jackal Buzzards (6), Long-crested Eagles (5), Black-shouldered Kites (5), and a Forest Buzzard.

The weather was particularly in our favour; with rain the previous evening and a cold, cold night.  The day was chilly and stayed that way on a mostly cloudy day.  As a result, there were keen responses from almost all raptors except the BSK's, and resulted in seven birds caught during the day. Four JBs, and three LCEs.

smoky sunrise

the one that got away

first one for the day - photo credit Mark Brown

long-crested eagle - photo credit Lorinda Jordaan

not one but two. notice the difference in eye colour

the obligatory post release photos

simultaneous trapping is a first for me - photo credit Mark Brown

the largest bird louse I've ever seen, even relative to my big hands - photo credit Erin Wreford

stunning buzzards

freedom

I must, ashamedly and under duress, confess that I was the only person to bleed that day.  Having received a loving handshake (more accurately a finger-trap) from one tough Jackal Buzzard.  I suppose you will notice the teeny-tiny, skin-coloured band-aid – now that attention is drawn to it. 

spread wing to show the moult pattern - photo credit Mark Brown

seventh heaven, there goes the last one of the day - photo credit Erin Wreford

Also...

Darvill on Saturday was fantastic.  In the absence of the other SAFRING trainee's, and with a steady trickle of birds that never got overwhelming – there was an opportunity to complete a full four-hour stint of continuous ringing... Like a diligent nerd, Im going to subject you to a list of all the 43 birds (and 11 recaptures) from 21 (+2) species!

  (1)     Kurrichane Thrush                    

1       Spotted-backed Weaver          

1 (1) Red-faced Cisticola                   

2       Cape Wagtail                            

1 (1) Spectacled Weaver                  

4 (1) Levaillants Cisticola               

6 (1) Dark-capped Bulbul                

8 (2) Fan-tailed Widowbird            

1 (1) Yellow Warbler                         

1       Green-backed Cameroptera  

3       Black Saw-wing                        

1       Blue-billed Firefinch                

1 (1) Terrestrial Brownbul              

1        Cape White-eye (green)          

1       Olive Sunbird                            

  (1)   Lesser Swamp Warbler               

2        African Reed Warbler             

1       Rock Martin                               

1       Yellow-fronted Canary           

3        Lesser-masked Weaver           

2 (1) Red Bishop                                  

1        Brown-throated Martin          

1        Fan-tailed Cisticola