The plan for today was to join up with MR who runs a colour-ringing project on Mute Swans in the Colne Valley and also rings up through the Home Counties into East Anglia. We have known each other for some years now and have been in liaison over the recent months as we have been recording Swans, ringed under his scheme, at Rickmansworth and the River Thames.
Black Park, Langley Park and Little Britain Lake were all on the itinery but by the time all three sites had been visited we had only captured and colour-ringed the cob from Little Britain Lake.
Cob, Little Britain Lake
Black Park, Langley Park and Little Britain Lake were all on the itinery but by the time all three sites had been visited we had only captured and colour-ringed the cob from Little Britain Lake.
4BNK is fitted
The pen was too nervous to approach after her mate was captured, but there's a chance for another day.
A beautiful day at Black Park
The water birds at Black Park are always very wary. They are used to dogs jumping in the lake and keep their distance. Today, they were having none of it.
We moved on to the Thames at Staines, unfortunately outside the colour-ringing project, but still within the area where MR rings swans.
Swan whisperer at work
We had plenty of bread, rings and time. A few hours later and we had processed quite a few!
Processing a well grown cygnet
Totals: 39 (3) & 2 darvics read in the field
1 metal and colour ring fitted at Little Britain Lake
38 metal rings fitted at Staines
3 re-trapped at Staines
2 colour rings read at Staines 4AJG & J3Y