Ringing attempt # 2

It is already a year since ringers from the Wits Bird Club managed to catch a couple of Yellow-throated Sandgrouse at the Sun City site. For the write-up on the first ringing attempt, visit

http://stuartgroom.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse pair

It was with this success in mind that Barbi Forsyth set up another outing. Tuesday afternoon, 7th September, saw Barbi and her 'entourage' of ringers, Karen, Gail and Dael scouting the site to plan the next morning's setup.

The ladies hard at work

I joined the ladies early on Wednesday morning and the vigil began. Just after 07:00, a number of Yellow-throated Sandgrouse flew by, with quite a few landing amongst the nets. Try as we may, we could not persuade any of the Sandgrouse that the net was a good place to be! The birds have a very steep take-off angle so even with nets 3m high, it was not sufficient to catch any. The day wore on, and numerous other species were netted and ringed, from Namaqua Doves to Violet-eared Waxbills, including two retraps from Karen's ringing last year, those being a Sabota Lark and a White-browed Scrub-Robin. Oddly enough, both these birds were side by side in a net. Maybe they have a support group going for birds with bling.

Namaqua Dove male

As the afternoon approached, excitement was increasing again, and soon enough the Sandgrouse started flying past. With some persuasion and a lot of luck, one female Yellow-throated Sandgrouse was netted and successfully ringed. This was the first female captured here, following on from the two males last year.

Success!!

Violet-eared Waxbill female

Dusk started settling around us, and the Double-banded Sandgrouse started appearing. We decided to leave the nets up as late as possible in the hopes of trapping one of these birds. None were interested in being given a new leg ring, and a decision was made to pack up. Gail started making her way towards her nets, and I stepped out from my hiding spot in the long grass, and promptly disturbed a female Double-banded Sandgrouse that had snuck in quietly. She headed straight into one of the nets, and gave Dael her first Sandgrouse to ring.

Double Success!!

Double-banded Sandgrouse female

Another attempt was made today, but very few birds were netted, none of them Sandgrouse, although one female Yellow-throated Sandgrouse flew into the net, and promptly managed to fly straight out again.

Oh so close ........

Well, with new successes in hand, and many adaptions to netting strategies, we will be at it again in about 6 months time!!!





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