Rain, ducks & other matters at the São Jacinto reserve (October 1 - 4)

This four-day stay at the Sao Jacinto reserve included two days of duck captures. However, only on our second day of trapping did we manage to catch some ducks, as with our first attempt our traps remained empty. This was possibly caused by recent disturbance of an unknown kind near our catching site. With fall migration on its way, the diversity in the duck species is increasing rapidly. Besides the usual Mallards, there is now a good number of Eurasian Teals present, as well Eurasian Wigeons and about a dozen Shovelers and Gadwalls. In the end we managed to catch and mark a reasonable number of Mallards and four teals, of which two teals were actively moulting primaries in our pond. And as autumn has arrived we also received A LOT of rain, raising the water level at the pond with several centimeters during our stay. On the fourth and final day we got some attention from national media. Two reporters from SIC television visited us for a news report about the duck work in Sao Jacinto. In the morning their visit got delayed due to massive rainfall, but in the end it all worked out it seemed and we could proudly present some of our captures on national televion. The item got aired on October 12 but can still be viewed here:

http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/pais/2013/10/12/mais-de-20-mil-aves-foram-marcadas-nos-ultimos-20-anos-em-portugal

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

 

One of the 14 Gadwalls Anas strepera that were present had been marked a few years earlier.

My favorite Eurasian Teal V/Y/V appeared again for the first time after being away for the entire summer. One of six marked teals that we resighted.