Whilst ringing at Sabkhat Al Fasl
on 9 October 2015 we caught 44 birds which is the highest number we have
caught in a single day. We set nine 18 metre nets in our normal locations in
the reed bed site and apart from the Citrine Wagtail and Savi’s Warblers posted
about earlier we also caught a few other species, some of which are commonly
trapped and others not so. Species that we do not often catch but that we
caught this time included Barn Swallow. We had only caught two previous birds
but caught nine this time possibly as we had the nets up well before first
light and the birds were caught leaving their roost site in the reeds? Another
species we caught that we had only caught one of previously was a Yellow
Wagtail. Although the species is common at the location and birds are often
seen near the nets they are rarely caught as they can see the nets and
skillfully avoid them. We caught both Graceful Prinias, Little Bitterns and
Indian (Clamorous) Reed Warblers three common resident species as well as passage
migrant birds that we also regularly catch such as Great Reed Warblers,
Eurasian Reed Warbler and Turkestan Shrike. The last species we caught was the
winter visitor Common Kingfisher. Normally we catch females at this location
but this time we caught two females and a single male, allowing photos to be
taken of both male and female together in the hand at the same time.
 |
| Barn Swallow |
 |
| Common Kingfishers - male |
 |
| Common Kingfishers - male (left) & female (right) |
 |
| Graceful Prinia |
 |
| Great Reed Warbler |
 |
| Great Reed Warbler |
 |
| Little Bittern |
 |
| Yellow Wagtail |
