From: Colin Jackson <colin.jackson@arocha.org>
Date: 2011-12-05 14:56
Subject: Ngulia 2011 & Watamu
The ringing session for Ngulia 2011 finished today with the last ringers leaving the lodge this morning after quite a different season. Only 10,800 migrants were ringed this year as opposed to the c.17,000 that were ringed last year, the main reason being poor weather conditions of more mistless nights than nights with mist. Totals are still being finalised but the predominance of Marsh Warbler was very noticeable with fewer Hippolais warblers than most years - though Olive-tree was quite well represented - and also fewer Basra Reed Warblers, Iranias and River Warblers. No foreign-ringed bird was caught either making it the second year in a row that we have not caught one with a ring already - something that had become expected every year.

Species of most interest ringing-wise was the Icterine Warbler ringed at night on the 23rd November - otherwise probably the most significant record of the season was not a ringing record but an incredible movement of over 25,500 Amur Falcons over the lodge in a 2-hour period on the 26th November. It was an astounding sight and probably the largest movement of Amur Falcons recorded to date in Kenya. We also had a Eurasian Sparrowhawk hanging around the lodge - seen at least twice on different days (presumed the same bird) and a good number of Booted Eagles moving through heading south.

More information is available on our blog: www.arochakenya.wildlifedirect.org

back here in Watamu - on 1st and 2nd December there were still good numbers of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters going over heading south as well as a few flocks of Eurasian Bee-eater and White-throated Bee-eater.

Yesterday evening I watched at least 3,000 Brown Noddies flying off Whale Island at dusk - I watched until it was almost dark but didn't see them settling on the island to roost - unless they went to roost after dark...

Colin
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Colin Jackson
A Rocha Kenya
PO Box 383,
Watamu, 80202
Kenya

Eml: colin.jackson@arocha.org
Tel: +254 (0)20 233 5865 (wireless)
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For more information:
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