We set up mist nets at dusk to trap birds as they flew to roost at high tide. It was fun but very exhausting!
We managed to catch 6 Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Broad-billed Sandpiper, a Terek Sandpiper, one Lesser and one Greater Sansplover, and 3 Little Herons. We also caught around 20 Dog-faced Fruit Bats and 1 Cave Nectar Bat - sharp-toothed little beasts!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBk-rIwdt-7h8Kgf5gNvk5ZEdRt-I8bl83bnUjZG0yW64wabXYTckQ5lcHz78pEZuqpIPD2O0QdZdNFTQ5XSrPihePDvEd7jo_7EyZsNRQ6uvKn8mA5nBvUHlcndkMys04MoQUQ/s400/john1.jpg)
Checking out the mudflats with the evening sun behind us.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvBQZnDN9QHqMybW2_lv7f6Z4I6JsXLxBczR8zdqE0mUX2if1CThz4rxi7u5Td3QzrY_jc5gmZEVweKhkZJmXMmpKGbuPUq0fKVKQbIaEptheemsF0SLq8BSqFliPKiCQ196mxw/s400/RNStint+in+flight1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30DTZnXioCh-OPZdF3ruLmopnFwa2U-ji8Zmi1TaAGAas4wVRqVFLAGM5t77PmeMcdE0Mwe3MWxAd9YYBY5C3KBZ64nPscO7FmtNp3KrdJbePpGquJPohbwAWFbXffn4dRTz2xg/s400/RNStint+in+flight2.jpg)
A couple of shots of a flock of Red-necked Stints flying in perfectly co-ordinated formation.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Er9F0lEV4dZ7lDk98LuXpVf9l5n3J1CABtKjcKXwz9fFPKTKeMZdOkVhlPvGlgbKiq-PhR2nhAHsGFh0TXQbPcyaJiQm8M1eiotJiXbRHQRvpo3_EM25IMn9f5oZHUnMHmxiKQ/s400/setting+the+nets.jpg)
Setting the nets before dusk
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe_8zLCFO79zXi2dgkvTdsGTvP6A4KsOuoNIxEvavq7nc_9wdvLW8d0R0sWW4d-XxCrCbJhc5WZf572-80rJNG6__l1mWaZ6PuGlm2V8ReBp4FPwXHfXYPzjzrsz74FPk-u1hCA/s400/mudflats+by+night1.jpg)
The mudflats by night - lots of ambient light, so not ideal for trapping birds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJk43gby39THuWaUZCI42DL67pOPg5fwiRueRGW3cRLnZp-n4S4zEAkzHALSR-BunvFzmkNRKGwgX0GS-XORJNNe-E6RGFzpjKF9zkZKt6JNs8YZEWq95ZgaQsOQfLjFy4ciCYw/s400/Lesser+Sand,+left+wing1.jpg)
Lesser Sand Plover in wing moult.The inner six primaries are fresh and full grown. 7 and 8 are still growing, and the outer two, 9 and 10, are old unmoulted feathers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2qSm1iXs2DcwZrg1uEszwS9q3RvsaM9Bd_7t2XexDxxYVn6amuHA_rabrMqZ0TmBIxbGL_6kDcADBN_m6nd4ZgpOlgli5axti7gNIqfPLMc1ojMgOwhcLT0iormcnRGN9hkGMg/s400/Lesser+Sand,+measuring+bill1.jpg)
Measuring the bill length, from the base of the culmen to the tip.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJN7rBSMxVehbYSyPTzo4p5RjhiH_Jr4Cr-vqohSA2ZU8g3Kqjk0macM9GNMWxxN7GJrvjSQH9bko5gDgfmD1JqglEu13Fu1PF3sn-E9Pf3Ao0s6PtXKQBfQ15P-n_ZNdC5jgWw/s400/Lesser+Sand,+measuring+head+and+bill1.jpg)
Measuring the head and bill length, from the rear of the skull to the tip of the bill.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FAvJ6CWUHYcLUc2LyDObBgOjjEud4Ddgslnhgw-jOgBkulr7_9Wof1qs8wqWgljGpqAEd9Dvt1rwPewA8UElMxRG3c0aM9zcGJZ_vae_j_X1cBfqNpUHIMWilEfvV4s10rxLPg/s400/Lesser+Sand,+measuring+nalospi1.jpg)
Measuring the nalospi, the distance between the tip of the bill and the distal edge of the nostril.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMjpENZkqK582KZEi64FtNrEd9syXce-keLGpRFr_9Z_LgBUA3SvPU9cuI7Yttf66SENDF9bT6-USvf19oBMKOhJIg0u9qWNQiNfeDrFx1WB4_goG4Vvbu9r0FG7-4j9l1aCgyw/s400/Lesser+Sand,+measuring+tarsus1.jpg)
Measuring the tarsus.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVg1V3YukSn28Uzqa5c6VEbNWSEJzX3tVOrgWbj5ePrVhkTXQWF0kNXsHdmCmZX1vZhDapHOkSTWcarran9rw5zgfSH2ZJm1z5x5mUQhPL2Yw2O8lavIHYF7U_VW3CPGzWvfxDA/s400/Lesser+Sand,+measuring+middle+toe1.jpg)
Measuring the middle toe.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vWb4TvWb0nffBuck5hfMIqCMvT0cJYBLU2kx-aAwZD-w07mbL2Os29q9iE21V0r3gPy80yonbp2ZNN5uZb9vSmDcbpGfVe_LyLmHWGx6urnLWjqjBMTShLBw6asZpRyctBjrZA/s400/sandplover+heads.jpg)
A good comparison of the bill shapes of Greater (above) and Lesser Sand Plover. Note that the 'nail' (bulge on the culmen) starts about two-thirds of the way along the bill of Lesser, but about half-way along in Greater. The tip of the Greater's bill is also noticeably sharper and less blunt than that of Lesser.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvVFxZMRR4jNx1o6E4TiuMPxAf7ZZEydJNu0OSgqOerJmu2fFfG36chfDh8SUz-QTthjSiXMxAYtE5tUYSmDeyaCSSpuC-B8OB7nECsCA1bWK4cIW-nlFz9DNPYxvR30IJpytCQ/s400/Plover,+Greater+Sand1.jpg)
Another shot of the Greater Sand Plover, showing the olive-yellow leg colour, which tends to be a good distinguishing feature of this species.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibThzhNyxdmpl4nLPn9kDyh0x9yaj0GGjNSSKjGmyqEhGPG4No5a5DJG-R6OePk776MrpCiYb6j6uhGfjEhAa6AzrR_oGMuDkQfXDXr_nPr9qoppRHQS5z21AEmgQ5szzZiQAWtg/s400/Sandpiper,+Broad-billed5.jpg)
A Broad-billed Sandpiper showing off its broad bill!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0iZ8cn6yiYf1EcuQecq3FxVI0qmXHJsJMHaowT0jGTCbBKnkBgeLgusuf09hm4sLmUGIsqit4fN3NSXbVuAib4vhWrWEkUYjO1jbWybnLCykZm8Y41z2fU49K_dS3IKHlD3UIA/s400/Sandpiper,+Terek3.jpg)
Terek Sandpiper. Note the deformed toes on the left leg.
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