In the early morning of 30th December, Gareth and Kevin ventured to a farmland site near Stafford for a lamping session.
The farm has a mix of autumn cereal, stubble, kale and sheep pasture, providing a range of feeding and roosting sites for birds.
A half moon, broken cloud, light wind and mild weather offered favourable conditions for lamping. Indeed, the first bird detected with the thermal camera was duly caught - a juvenile Stock Dove.
Thereafter, however, most birds proved to be more elusive, not least the three or four Woodcock seen that all evaded capture. Two birds ran across the ground at a pace equal to that of and therefore remained about ten metres ahead of their would be captors, before taking flight and disappearing into the darkness. The other one or two, as well as a Common Snipe, took flight at a greater distance, whilst single Fieldfare and Skylark flew within a couple of metres of being caught.
Fortunately, not was all lost, as another Skylark and an adult male Yellowhammer were caught and ringed.
A success rate of 30% or so may seem low, but it actually represents a favourable return, especially considering that all three birds were of farmland species whose populations and ranges have declined in recent years. Surveying and ringing such birds helps to monitor their populations and use of such farmland sites, with the intention of providing insights into their conservation.
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