tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295971572024-03-14T03:37:55.472+00:00Storm Petrels in PortugalA Rocha Portugal's long-term study of European storm petrelsRob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-45112176739674027242014-01-29T11:28:00.004+00:002014-01-29T11:31:02.737+00:00<span style="color: #990000;">Join us in Portugal - Stormies 2014</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">The Stormies Project is a unique opportunity to have an exciting time as part of a research expedition looking into the impacts of climate change on the smallest (and cutest) Atlantic seabird - the European storm petrel (stormie for short).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Anyone can join, no previous experience needed and you are guaranteed to have an amazing time with the stormies, while enjoying the sun and the beautiful food in the south of Portugal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Dates:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Team 1: 26th May - 4th June</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;"><br /><span style="color: white;">Team 2: 5th - 14th June</span><br /><span style="color: white;">Team 3: 15th - 24th June</span><br /><span style="color: white;">Team 4: 25th June - 4th July</span><br /><br /><span style="color: white;">Prices (include, insurance, accomodation and food for 9 nights / 10 days and all the expenses related to fieldwork - transport, equipment, etc): £550 / 640 €</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><br />Please contact medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>.uk for more details.</span></span></span><br />
<br />Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-56019236285095204912012-07-31T20:09:00.000+01:002013-03-12T09:52:14.328+00:00Join us in Portugal in 2013A unique opportunity is available for volunteers to join our storm petrel project in Portugal for 10 days during June 2013.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;">The birds...</span></strong></div>
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Storm Petrels (or “stormies”) are tiny sparrow-sized seabirds that traverse the globe on their migrations, only rarely coming to land. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYC8DIb466I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/OmuYjov04P0/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439923777792930" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYC8DIb466I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/OmuYjov04P0/s320/Picture1.jpg" style="height: 187px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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<strong>A storm petrel carrying an individually numbered ring. This bird was originally ringed in Scotland, and subsequently re-caught in Portugal.</strong></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYC9MMaDheI/AAAAAAAAAQY/VVBqTTf5i0E/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296441178974291426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYC9MMaDheI/AAAAAAAAAQY/VVBqTTf5i0E/s320/Picture2.jpg" style="height: 133px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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<strong>A "stormie" at sea</strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Research…</span></strong></span><br />
Since 1990 stormies have been the focus of one of A Rocha Portugal's long-running research projects, on the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. The project examines the links between climate, oceanography, marine food-webs and the diet and migration strategies of storm petrels. See the numerous other postings on this blog for further details of our research and to see photos of previous storm petrel teams in action</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDA0F8fptI/AAAAAAAAAQo/i-s8qs1gLb8/s1600-h/Picture4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296445162969343698" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDA0F8fptI/AAAAAAAAAQo/i-s8qs1gLb8/s320/Picture4.jpg" style="height: 206px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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<strong>Members of the research team hard at work</strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;">The participants...</span></strong></div>
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Each year, we welcome volunteers from all around the world and of all ages, to take part in this exciting and topical research project. Small teams of 6-8 volunteers stay for 10 days each, working alongside scientists from Cardiff University and A Rocha Portugal. No previous experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and a reasonable level of physical fitness; all necessary training is provided.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDHuOQ-YbI/AAAAAAAAARY/wrql20EYEvA/s1600-h/Picture11.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296452758704906674" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDHuOQ-YbI/AAAAAAAAARY/wrql20EYEvA/s320/Picture11.jpg" style="height: 320px; width: 273px;" /></a><br />
<strong>Manuela, a volunteer from Italy</strong><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">The location...</span></strong></span><br />
You will be based at <a href="http://www.arocha.org/pt-en/index.html">A Rocha Portugal’s Bird Observatory </a>on the Algarve coast. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDEqPb-NbI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/TIFZ_e_w8IY/s1600-h/Picture6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296449391765108146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDEqPb-NbI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/TIFZ_e_w8IY/s320/Picture6.jpg" style="height: 178px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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Stormies are captured at night at a beautiful and remote location near the western Cape. Sound recordings of the storm petrel's songs are used to lure the birds into mist nets, from which they are carefully extracted by trained bird ringers, then weighed measured and quickly released.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDFagqZKpI/AAAAAAAAARI/0qrD6QhEg4Y/s1600-h/Picture8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296450221022718610" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDFagqZKpI/AAAAAAAAARI/0qrD6QhEg4Y/s320/Picture8.jpg" style="height: 153px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Good food, a warm welcome and impressive facial hair are the observatory’s specialities!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDGNVLF1tI/AAAAAAAAARQ/uqwDrmqe_WA/s1600-h/Picture9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296451094111966930" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDGNVLF1tI/AAAAAAAAARQ/uqwDrmqe_WA/s320/Picture9.jpg" style="height: 192px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;"><strong>The project staff...</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Gui Rethore</span></strong><span style="font-size: small;">, A Rocha biologist and coordinator of A Rocha's Ecoservices enterprise, providing exciting encounters with Portuguese wildlife throughout the year. One of Gui's many roles is to host the Storm petrel project teams and coordinate the bird ringing data collection.</span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbV1FKprB_A/T_dAjnWOCjI/AAAAAAAAAao/haVtxRY_6X8/s1600/gui1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbV1FKprB_A/T_dAjnWOCjI/AAAAAAAAAao/haVtxRY_6X8/s320/gui1.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span></strong><br />
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<strong>Dr Renata Medeiros</strong>, post-doctoral researcher at Cardiff University (Wales, UK); storm petrel project coordinator.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDMFaIMz9I/AAAAAAAAARo/fR9YPzTyEKg/s1600-h/Picture14.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296457555072831442" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDMFaIMz9I/AAAAAAAAARo/fR9YPzTyEKg/s320/Picture14.jpg" style="height: 185px; width: 143px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>Dr Rob Thomas</strong>, lecturer in Biosciences at Cardiff University <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49SqqpCsLvw/UT76r1VK0kI/AAAAAAAAAc8/TzVKfA9Aew8/s1600/Bird+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49SqqpCsLvw/UT76r1VK0kI/AAAAAAAAAc8/TzVKfA9Aew8/s320/Bird+head.jpg" width="179" /></a><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;">2013 dates </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Default Sans Serif,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>Team 1:</strong> June 3-12<br /><strong>Team 2:</strong> June 12-21<br /><strong>Team 3:</strong> June 21-30</span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">2013 prices: </span>£ 550 per person for 10 days </span></strong>Includes accommodation, good food and all research expenses </div>
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(travel to Portugal and travel insurance are not included).<br />
A number of <strong>student/pensioner discounts</strong> may be available (details available on request: contact <a href="mailto:renata_jorge@hotmail.com">renata_jorge@hotmail.com</a> )<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Further information and Bookings</span></strong></span>To find out more about joining the project in 2013, or to make a booking, please contact the project coordinator:</div>
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<span style="color: #33ccff;">Dr Renata Medeiros</span>, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, Wales, CF103AX, UK.<br />
Email: <a href="mailto:renata_jorge@hotmail.com">renata_jorge@hotmail.com</a> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDK5vazcJI/AAAAAAAAARg/0_0mNtOZY68/s1600-h/Picture13.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296456255117947026" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SYDK5vazcJI/AAAAAAAAARg/0_0mNtOZY68/s320/Picture13.jpg" style="height: 319px; width: 241px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%;">We look forward to hosting you in Portugal in 2013, for the A Rocha storm petrel project's 24th year!</span></div>
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Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-56680627282731602872012-06-07T20:53:00.002+01:002012-07-06T15:17:54.931+01:002012 catchesThe 2012 storm petrel season is underway, and off to a cracking start with 75 birds caught by team 1, including two previously ringed in the UK! Team 2 caught another 144 stormies, including two more UK-ringed birds and one Danish-ringed (presumably from the Faroe Islands). Team 3 caught 84 stormies, including 1 Spanish ringed, 2 more UK ringed and a night of 33 -the biggest single-night catch since 2009.<br />
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Team 1<br />
<span style="color: red;">June 5th-6th:</span> <span style="color: orange;">8 stormies, 1 UK-ringed control</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 7th-8th:</span> <span style="color: orange;">28 stormies</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 8th-9th:</span> 13 stormies</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 10th-11th:</span> <span style="color: orange;">8 stormies, 1 UK ring</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 11th-12th: </span>18 stormies</span><br />
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Team 2<br />
<span style="color: red;">June 14-15th:</span> <span style="color: orange;">24 stormies, 1 UK ring</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 15-16th:</span> 28 stormies, 1 Danish ring</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 16-17th:</span> 19 stormies</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 18-19th:</span><span style="color: orange;"> 27 stormies</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 19-20th:</span> 26 stormies, 1 UK ring and a classic vomit sample containing 5 isopods!</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 20-21st:</span> 20 stormies, and RAIN! The nets were shut for two periods before 4am, when catching had to end completely.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Team 3</span>Team 3</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 23-24th: </span></span><span style="color: orange;">18 stormies</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 24-25th:</span> 18 stormies</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 25-26th:</span> 11 stormies, 1 Spanish ring</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: red;">June 27-28th:</span> 17 stormies, Cory's shearwater over the nets!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 28-29th:</span> <span style="color: orange;">a fantastic 33 stormies, 1 UK ring </span><span style="color: yellow;">PLUS, 1 Cory's shearwater!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">June 29-30th:</span><span style="color: orange;"> 5 stormies, 1 UK ring</span><br />
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Team 4 (for one night only!)<br />
<span style="color: red;">July 5-6th:</span> <span style="color: orange;">1 stormie</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">End of season barbecue!</span><br />
<span style="color: lime;">Grand total for 2012:</span> <span style="color: orange;">322 </span><span style="color: orange;">stormies, 6 UK rings, 1 Danish ring, 1 Spanish ring, and a Cory's shearwater.</span><br />
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Hot news for this month is the acceptance for publication of Renata's latest PhD paper: <br />
<span style="color: orange;">Renata Medeiros et al. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; text-transform: uppercase;">M</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">olecular evidence for gender differences in the
migratory behaviour of a small seabird. PLoS One</span></span><br />
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...and another of our research group's papers is published this month:<br />
<span style="color: orange;">Louise Soanes, Rob Thomas & Mark Bolton. 2012. Evaluation of field and analytical methods for estimating the population size of burrow-nesting seabirds from playback surveys. Bird Study, iFirst 2012 1-5.</span><br />
<br />First bird out of the net in 2012, wearing a British ring -what a start!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JOujqn7JWRw/T9EHlXk4sxI/AAAAAAAAAac/xGHPQ7H-xK0/s1600/208944_10150875474477914_1247491183_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JOujqn7JWRw/T9EHlXk4sxI/AAAAAAAAAac/xGHPQ7H-xK0/s320/208944_10150875474477914_1247491183_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-38799381713290625082010-05-24T15:59:00.025+01:002010-06-29T21:01:39.873+01:002010 Catches<strong>May 23th-24th:</strong> 1 faulty battery, 1 very bright moon, 0 stormies, 6 sleeping petrellers and 8 Pastéis de Nata.<br /><strong>May 24th-25th:</strong> 1 bouncing bird, 3 very desperate ringers by the net whole night, 1 armed policeman and 8 warm Pastéis de Nata.<br /><strong>May 25th-26th: </strong>0 stormies, 6 Pastéis de Nata.<br /><strong>May 26th-27th:</strong> night off<br /><strong>May 27th-28th:</strong> 0 stormies, 7 Pastéis de Nata with a good discount.<br /><strong>May 28th-29th:</strong> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>2 stormies</strong></span>!!!!!!!! Nevermind the Pastéis de Nata.<br /><strong>May 29th-30th:</strong> 0 stormies, back to Pastéis de Nata<br /><strong>May 30th-31st: </strong>night off, goodbye Team 1<br /><strong>May 31st- June 1st:</strong> night off, welcome Team 2<br /><strong>June 1st-2nd:</strong> 0 stormies; 0 Pastéis de Nata!! getting worse...<br /><strong>June 2nd-3rd:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">2 stormies</span></strong> :))))<br /><strong>June 3rd-4th:</strong> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>1 stormie</strong></span>, a retrap from 5th June 2009, weighing the same (26g)<br /><strong>June 4th-5th:</strong> 0 stormies! Ze wins the mars bar - again! 8 creamy doughnuts (later re-identified as custard by Abi Gordon, doughnut conniseur).<br /><strong>June 5th-6th:</strong> 0 stormies again -what is going on???<br /><strong>June 6th-7th:</strong> night off -boat trip tomorrow -maybe we'll find some stormies further offshore....<br /><strong>June 7th boat trip: </strong>8+ common dolphins, 7+ stormies 6miles and 9 miles S of Lagos<br /><strong>June 7th-8th:</strong> 0 stormies, but a couple of birds very briefly over the net. We are taking solace in Odiaxere bakery products which are consoling us about Renata's depature as well...<br /><strong>June 8th-9th:</strong> End of team 2 party!<br /><strong>June 9th-10th:</strong> Night off, welcome team 3<br /><strong>June 10th-11th:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">1 stormie</span></strong>, Cory's shearwater overhead. A bag of custard doughnuts and pasteis de nata was briefly sighted at dawn.<br /><strong>June 11th-12th:</strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> <strong>4 stormies</strong></span> -Happy Days!!!<br /><strong>June 12th-13th:</strong> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>5 stormies</strong></span> + 1 police-boat encounter<br /><strong>June 13th-14th:</strong> 0 stormies again, though 1 bounced at 3am.<br /><strong>June 14th:</strong> boat trip, 2.5 miles S of Lagos: 8+ stormies coming for mackerel amazingly close to the boat, including 1 ringed bird.<br /><strong>June 14th-15th:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">2 stormies</span></strong> ringed, 2 seen off Ponta da Almadena at dusk.<br /><strong>June 15th-16th:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">6 stormies</span></strong>, including <span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>1 ringed in the UK</strong></span><br /><strong>June 16th-17th:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">5 stormies</span></strong>, including <span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>1 uk ring</strong></span><br /><strong>June 17th:</strong> End of team 3 -party!<br /><br /><br /><p><strong>June 27-28th:</strong> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>22 stormies</strong></span>, including <span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>1 UK ring</strong></span> & <span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>1 Spanish ring </strong></span></p><p>Hurrah for team 4!!!!</p><strong>June 28-29th:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">10 stormies</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Running year total:</span></strong> 60 stormies in 21 nights of fieldwork.Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-43618407104413584582009-06-14T22:56:00.006+01:002009-06-22T10:05:42.841+01:002009 catchesMay 24th-25th: 47 stormies, 3 carrying Spanish rings, 1 UK ring + 1 CORY'S SHEARWATER!!!<br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>May 25th-26th: 24 stormies, 1 UK ring<br /></strong></span>May 26th-27th: 20 stormies, 1 Spanish ring<br />May 27th-28th: night off<br />May 28th-29th: 0 stormies (but amazing waves!)<br />May 29th-30th: 35 stormies, 2 UK rings<br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>May 30th-31th: 21 stormies, 1 Norwegian ring</strong></span><br />May 31th-June 1st: night off (Goodbye Team 1)<br />June 1st-2nd: night off (Welcome Team 2)<br />June 2nd-3rd: 2 stormies<br />June 3nd-4rd: 7 stormies<br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">June 4th-5th: 3 stormies</span></strong><br />June 5th-6th: 10 stormies<br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>June 6th-7th: 11 stormies, 1 Spanish retrap from May 24th,</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>PLUS our 5,000th stormie!!! </strong></span><br />June 7th-8th: 8 stormies<br />June 8th-9th: 24 stormies<br />June 9th-10th: night off (Goodbye Team 2)<br />June 10th-11th: night off (Welcome Team 3)<br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>June 11th-12th: 8 stormies</strong></span><br />June 12th-13th: 25 stormies, including 1 retrap from last night<br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>June 13th-14th: 31 stormies, 1 UK ring</strong></span><br />June 14th-15th: 59 stormies, 2 UK rings<br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>June 15th-16th: zero stormies -perplexing!!!</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">June 16th-17th: 28 stormies<br /></span></strong>June 17th-18th: Night off (various island and isopod - related activities)<br />June 18th-19th: 7 stormies<br />June 19th-20th: End of season party!!!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>2009 Running total:</strong> 370 stormies (4 Spanish, 7 UK, 1 Norwegian, 1 Portuguese retrap) + 1 Cory's shearwater</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>All-time running total:</strong></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> 5,198 stormies</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">On nights in <strong>green</strong>, the Secret Weapon (<strong>dimethyl sulphide</strong>) was used as a scent lure.</span>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-90469918371129683392009-06-13T07:43:00.006+01:002009-06-16T07:54:51.012+01:00Storm Petrellers 2009 -Team 3<div><div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Team 3 at the Cape</span></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjO8bHYAa8I/AAAAAAAAAX4/ADWxAEvLG7I/s1600-h/P1020647.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346824356641139650" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjO8bHYAa8I/AAAAAAAAAX4/ADWxAEvLG7I/s200/P1020647.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Swimming near the Cape</span></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjPi-tqC2gI/AAAAAAAAAYA/TkxoNRQ6gU0/s1600-h/P1020653.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346866749654620674" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjPi-tqC2gI/AAAAAAAAAYA/TkxoNRQ6gU0/s200/P1020653.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">A megalithic monument moment!</span></strong><br /><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346817477692775522" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjO2KtS6XGI/AAAAAAAAAXw/gHFzOnQGNXQ/s200/P1020664.JPG" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Walking home at dawn</span></strong><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjSYVeO3-MI/AAAAAAAAAYI/sPyxrUMLe54/s1600-h/P1020629.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347066152255748290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjSYVeO3-MI/AAAAAAAAAYI/sPyxrUMLe54/s200/P1020629.JPG" /></a></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Note to Rebecca's mum; we are feeding her well!</span></strong></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sjc95USePLI/AAAAAAAAAYY/x1YvIy38qUA/s1600-h/P1020801.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347811137433779378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sjc95USePLI/AAAAAAAAAYY/x1YvIy38qUA/s200/P1020801.JPG" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>One bakery customer preferred to remain anonymous</strong></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sjc_netLdmI/AAAAAAAAAYg/ILSCr2ajxhU/s1600-h/P1020800.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347813030015759970" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sjc_netLdmI/AAAAAAAAAYg/ILSCr2ajxhU/s200/P1020800.JPG" /></a></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Team 3 night off; all ready for the big night out in Alvor!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjdA-MfarsI/AAAAAAAAAYo/B9_Mspw3zaI/s1600-h/P1020739.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347814519774817986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SjdA-MfarsI/AAAAAAAAAYo/B9_Mspw3zaI/s200/P1020739.JPG" /></a></span></strong></div></div></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-51111136506440043182009-06-09T14:45:00.013+01:002009-06-09T20:01:49.949+01:00Storm Petrelers 2009 -Team 2<strong><span style="font-size:85%;">At the Cape</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6LwAgLTbI/AAAAAAAAAW4/-qljLQJGGog/s1600-h/P1020605.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345363464620297650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6LwAgLTbI/AAAAAAAAAW4/-qljLQJGGog/s200/P1020605.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Transport to the field site</span></strong><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6YRmuijYI/AAAAAAAAAXY/mG_JPe-gyCE/s1600-h/Riding+the+dolphins.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345377235956305282" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6YRmuijYI/AAAAAAAAAXY/mG_JPe-gyCE/s200/Riding+the+dolphins.jpg" /></a></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ready for action</span></strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si5pZo99HaI/AAAAAAAAAWY/R3CEafkdltQ/s1600-h/P1020557.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345325696950279586" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si5pZo99HaI/AAAAAAAAAWY/R3CEafkdltQ/s200/P1020557.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Clearing the net ride!</span></strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si5qNgZVt7I/AAAAAAAAAWg/akN41J9kF7w/s1600-h/P1020539.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345326588002416562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si5qNgZVt7I/AAAAAAAAAWg/akN41J9kF7w/s200/P1020539.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Catching sea creatures</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6mLUQVv8I/AAAAAAAAAXg/Vb9L8tQp7Lk/s1600-h/P1020580.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345392521081372610" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6mLUQVv8I/AAAAAAAAAXg/Vb9L8tQp7Lk/s200/P1020580.JPG" /></a></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Early morning bakery visits are an important new development!</span></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si5sjiXfp_I/AAAAAAAAAWo/wihwMFcPVzA/s1600-h/P1020548.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345329165511927794" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si5sjiXfp_I/AAAAAAAAAWo/wihwMFcPVzA/s200/P1020548.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Team 2 have had a full moon to contend with </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">(it keeps the stormies offshore) </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">but its rising later in the night at last</span></strong> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6OMTAndyI/AAAAAAAAAXA/3rrAPACzusg/s1600-h/P1020588.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345366149647791906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6OMTAndyI/AAAAAAAAAXA/3rrAPACzusg/s200/P1020588.JPG" /></a></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Survivors' photo, dawn day 10</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6O_cEL1AI/AAAAAAAAAXI/0kJD8exc_Fw/s1600-h/P1020628.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345367028252005378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si6O_cEL1AI/AAAAAAAAAXI/0kJD8exc_Fw/s200/P1020628.JPG" /></a></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-70402328744719360472009-06-08T07:45:00.004+01:002009-06-08T07:58:44.973+01:00Our 5,000th stormieAfter 20 years of storm petrel research at A Rocha Portugal, our project has reached a new landmark; our 5,000th storm petrel. Well done everyone! Here is the momentous bird, caught on the night of June 6th-7th 2009.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siy0-6WfilI/AAAAAAAAAWA/YNHCh2fHZwo/s1600-h/IMG_6681.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344845850690423378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siy0-6WfilI/AAAAAAAAAWA/YNHCh2fHZwo/s320/IMG_6681.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siy2TBLHzZI/AAAAAAAAAWI/5hf9tgdjUqA/s1600-h/P1020572.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344847295630790034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siy2TBLHzZI/AAAAAAAAAWI/5hf9tgdjUqA/s320/P1020572.JPG" /></a>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-42427677234483234722009-06-08T07:05:00.007+01:002009-06-09T08:07:39.972+01:00Team 2 boat tripNo stormies this time, but 3 Cory's shearwaters, 2 Mediterranean sheawaters, approx. 20 common terns, 1 skua sp., loads of gannets and best of all, 8 common dolphins frolicking around and under the boat. They were even seen mating! Thanks to Jelle and Bert for the great photos.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiyxfOrNjkI/AAAAAAAAAVw/FRP_-4UMXSc/s1600-h/_IGP2430.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344842007855337026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiyxfOrNjkI/AAAAAAAAAVw/FRP_-4UMXSc/s320/_IGP2430.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiyydrO23SI/AAAAAAAAAV4/HU8W7FYYzcY/s1600-h/_IGP2428.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344843080672927010" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiyydrO23SI/AAAAAAAAAV4/HU8W7FYYzcY/s320/_IGP2428.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si4B0dh7VkI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/YLGXax88qgI/s1600-h/IMG_6768.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345211808527111746" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Si4B0dh7VkI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/YLGXax88qgI/s320/IMG_6768.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siyu8fMVa0I/AAAAAAAAAVg/ReQ5D1IjwPw/s1600-h/IMG_6748.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344839211970554690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siyu8fMVa0I/AAAAAAAAAVg/ReQ5D1IjwPw/s320/IMG_6748.JPG" /></a></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-69653326504727755002009-05-29T16:59:00.024+01:002009-06-05T12:06:00.384+01:00Storm petrelers 2009 - Team 1Getting ready for the first night on the cliffs<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiI2-CsEHNI/AAAAAAAAATo/Kl0EyecYbQE/s1600-h/DSC_3036.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341892547516308690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiI2-CsEHNI/AAAAAAAAATo/Kl0EyecYbQE/s320/DSC_3036.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiI3brH-GdI/AAAAAAAAATw/afi07-q-LI0/s1600-h/DSC_3035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341893056586979794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiI3brH-GdI/AAAAAAAAATw/afi07-q-LI0/s320/DSC_3035.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiI33QxANJI/AAAAAAAAAT4/TkUR4uLsZOo/s1600-h/DSC_3040.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341893530547664018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiI33QxANJI/AAAAAAAAAT4/TkUR4uLsZOo/s320/DSC_3040.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Fun in the field </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiarP4rGOMI/AAAAAAAAAUA/TOizEk-e4c8/s1600-h/DSC_30386.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343146297321208002" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiarP4rGOMI/AAAAAAAAAUA/TOizEk-e4c8/s320/DSC_30386.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiasPAYbDnI/AAAAAAAAAUI/H7BuCXsV5cM/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+057.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343147381722123890" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiasPAYbDnI/AAAAAAAAAUI/H7BuCXsV5cM/s320/Rich+Facey+Pics+057.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij6dTYAdTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Wo6YlA6hU7I/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+032.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343796339199210802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij6dTYAdTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/Wo6YlA6hU7I/s320/Rich+Facey+Pics+032.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij6dp4bHwI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Jaa9K2b3VCw/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+071.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343796345240755970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij6dp4bHwI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Jaa9K2b3VCw/s320/Rich+Facey+Pics+071.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiAP8bSqJEI/AAAAAAAAASY/a3q8dx_x10s/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+070.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 145px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341286688853992514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiAP8bSqJEI/AAAAAAAAASY/a3q8dx_x10s/s200/Rich+Facey+Pics+070.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiARkBpiqfI/AAAAAAAAASg/4SVAx99aPp0/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+017.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 156px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341288468677044722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiARkBpiqfI/AAAAAAAAASg/4SVAx99aPp0/s200/Rich+Facey+Pics+017.jpg" /></a></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiAUJvvrI1I/AAAAAAAAAS4/fNTvcC5ReHI/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+027.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341291315729212242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiAUJvvrI1I/AAAAAAAAAS4/fNTvcC5ReHI/s200/Rich+Facey+Pics+027.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiAPNPvBY1I/AAAAAAAAASQ/H0ES1aewSUM/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+015.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341285878297879378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiAPNPvBY1I/AAAAAAAAASQ/H0ES1aewSUM/s200/Rich+Facey+Pics+015.jpg" /></a> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij5atj0CPI/AAAAAAAAAU4/3SmiR6S8iAE/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+078.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343795195176814834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij5atj0CPI/AAAAAAAAAU4/3SmiR6S8iAE/s320/Rich+Facey+Pics+078.jpg" /></a> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siat-NgqleI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/OigzN-TbQCE/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+025.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343149292211836386" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Siat-NgqleI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/OigzN-TbQCE/s320/Rich+Facey+Pics+025.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>Other fun </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij3qKogviI/AAAAAAAAAUo/2-3dwruTcpw/s1600-h/DSC_3093.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343793261655932450" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Sij3qKogviI/AAAAAAAAAUo/2-3dwruTcpw/s320/DSC_3093.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiawAMiq4LI/AAAAAAAAAUg/XWgUphwaqeA/s1600-h/Rich+Facey+Pics+084.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343151525334802610" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SiawAMiq4LI/AAAAAAAAAUg/XWgUphwaqeA/s320/Rich+Facey+Pics+084.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-41279893844201297112009-05-20T23:40:00.004+01:002009-05-23T15:31:54.574+01:00Ready to go!<div>The 2009 storm petrel season is about to start. We have 26 participants about to descend on the A Rocha observatory for one of its busiest months in recent years! Lets hope for an exciting and productive season, with the great team spirit that is A Rocha's speciality.<br />Watch this space for all the latest news from the cliffs!</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/ShgIkrfYdbI/AAAAAAAAARw/HxS9OSM1zFc/s1600-h/DSCF0091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339026784490386866" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/ShgIkrfYdbI/AAAAAAAAARw/HxS9OSM1zFc/s320/DSCF0091.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The project field site on the cliffs at Ponta da Almadena</span></strong></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-32578473533401165832008-08-06T12:37:00.003+01:002008-08-06T13:12:01.056+01:00Recommended reading<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SJmU4dpunHI/AAAAAAAAALA/0XOto_hanuU/s1600-h/Petrels+Night+%26+Day_Cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231376139920776306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SJmU4dpunHI/AAAAAAAAALA/0XOto_hanuU/s320/Petrels+Night+%26+Day_Cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Wow, what a fantastic book! This is an exhilarating combination of travel writing, field guide, "surround-sound" audioguide and scholarly research. Its beautifully produced, with high-quality reproduction of paintings by Killian Mullarney and photos by lots of seabird explorers including our very own Mark Bolton. Congratulations to Magnus Robb, the main author, on a ground-breaking publication which I'm sure will keep us all thinking, discussing and researching for years to come. Highly recommended reading for all storm petrel enthusiasts!<br /><br /><div>If you want to read a detailed review, <a href="http://oceanwanderersbooks.blogspot.com/2008/07/petrels-night-and-day-sound-approach.html">click here</a>. </div><br /><div>To order a copy, <a href="http://www.soundapproach.co.uk/intro.php">click here</a>.</div></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-81621910547076546192008-08-06T12:24:00.004+01:002008-08-06T12:31:48.730+01:00New arrival<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SJmLjK-xinI/AAAAAAAAAKw/n_ThM5rn5YE/s1600-h/Rob+%26+Bryony.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231365878526872178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SJmLjK-xinI/AAAAAAAAAKw/n_ThM5rn5YE/s200/Rob+%26+Bryony.JPG" border="0" /></a>Apologies for the recent break in transmission -I have an excellent excuse, namely Bryony Kate Thomas, who arrived into the world on July 21st. Seen here taking a nap after a busy day being born.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-67744114618520114312008-06-13T06:56:00.008+01:002008-07-15T12:17:05.026+01:002008 catchesMay 26th-27th: 28 stormies<br />May 27th-28th: 20 stormies, 1 carrying a Norwegian ring<br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">May 28th-29th: 58 stormies</span><br /></strong>May 29th-30th: 23 stormies<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>May 30th-31st: 33 stormies</strong>,</span> 1 Spanish ring<br />May 31st-June 1st: 34 stormies<br />June 1st-2nd: Night off<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>June 2nd-3rd: 14 stormies,</strong></span> 1 UK ring<br />June 3rd-4th: 10 stormies<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>June 4th-5th: 30 stormies,</strong></span> 1 UK ring<br />June 5th-6th, 28 stormies, 1 French ring<br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">June 6th-7th: 32 stormies</span></strong>, 1 UK ring<br />June 7th-8th: 30 stormies<br />June 8th-9th: Night off!<br />June 9th-10th: 2 stormies caught and ringed at sea, 6 nautical miles S of Portimao<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>June 10th-11th: 102 stormies</strong></span>, 2 UK rings, <strong>1 MADEIRAN PETREL</strong><span style="color:#cccccc;"><br /></span>June 11th-12th: 46 stormies<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>June 12th-13th: 38 stormies</strong></span><br />June 13th-14th: Night off!<br />June 14th-15th: 21 stormies, 1 UK ring<br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">June 15th-16th: 16 stormies </span></strong><br />June 16th-17th: 38 stormies, 1 French ring & 1 Norwegian ring<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>June 17th-18th: 17 stormies</strong></span><br />June 18th-19th: 6 stormies, 1 recapture from the 26th May<br />June 19th-20th: Night off!<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>June 20th-21th: 10 stormies</strong><br /></span><br />End of 2008 season!<br /><br /><p><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Year total: 636</span><span style="color:#ff0000;"> stormies, 11 controls + 1 Madeiran petrel </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">On nights in green, the Secret Weapon was deployed.</span></strong></p>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-65342617730687373262008-06-12T21:03:00.008+01:002008-12-08T21:00:48.027+00:00The Secret Weapon<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SFLZdwSz64I/AAAAAAAAAKg/cYl_958bmWQ/s1600-h/DSCF7528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211466824024320898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SFLZdwSz64I/AAAAAAAAAKg/cYl_958bmWQ/s320/DSCF7528.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Our secret weapon for catching stormies is a small bottle of Dimethyl Sulphide -which is the chemical released when phytoplankton are grazed by zooplankton. Amazingly, the smell of this can be detected by petrels over large distances at sea, and used to home in on patches of high productivity in which larger zooplankton and fish (storm petrel prey) are likely to be found. Whether this actually lures petrels in to our nets is a topic of much debate at Cruzinha -Renata is healthily sceptical while Rob is a True Believer. Only time and an end-of-season stats test will tell us the answer...</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>SECRET WEAPON UPDATE</strong></span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The end of season stats were rather ambiguous (there either is, or is not, a Secret Weapon Effect, depending on which stats test one chooses), so we are keen to continue this experiment over the summer, at other points along the migration route. If you are a petreller and would like to take part in this experiment by using the Secret Weapon on 50% of your catching nights, please contact Rob Thomas (<a href="mailto:ThomasRJ@Cardiff.ac.uk">ThomasRJ@Cardiff.ac.uk</a>) to be sent a bottle of dimethyl sulphate (with accompanying risk assessment).</div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>FURTHER UPDATE</strong></span></div><div>Thanks to those who have volunteered so far to join in with this experiment:</div><div>Bob Harris (Eilan Nan Ron, Scotland)</div><div>-Adrian George (Anglesey, Wales / Tyne & Wear, England)</div><div>-John Brown (Tyne & Wear, England)</div><div>-Declan Clarke (Sheepland, Northern Ireland)</div><div>-Kieran Foster (North Wales)</div><div></div><div></div><div>Here are some additional notes on the method:</div><div>1. In Portugal, we simply alternated nights with and nights without the dimethyl sulphate scent-lure, to test whether we caught more stormies on nights with the scent-lure in operation.</div><div>2. On the long Portuguese summer nights (7 hours of catching), we set up the scent lure at dusk, but further North with much shorter nights it may be worth setting up the scent lure some time before dusk, so that a downwind odour trail is already well established by the time catching begins.</div><div>3. In Portugal, we simply took the lid off the container to let the smell drift downwind, but it may be worth experimenting with some sort of absorbent wick, to increase the rate of evaporation.</div><div>4. We had the impression that our pot of dimethyl sulphate became less smelly over time, so for the last few nights of our field season we used a fresh bottle. Let us know if you need fresh supplies sent to you!</div><div> </div><div>By way of encouragement, here is a reference suggesting that the secret weapon effect really does work on land, at least in the middle of a Leach's petrel colony!</div><div>Nevitt, G.A. & Habermann, K. 2003. Behavioral attraction of Leach’s storm-petrels (<em>Oceanodroma leucorhoa</em>) to dimethyl sulfide. Journal of Experimental Biology 206: 1497-1501.</div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-56050754408236174292008-06-11T07:06:00.006+01:002008-12-08T21:00:48.690+00:00Madeiran storm petrel!On a very busy first night for team 3, a Madeiran petrel was ringed by some very tired petrellers... here are some photos of a great bird -only the 3rd Madeiran petrel ringed at Almadena in 19 years of ringing stormies.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SE9sXcxPvVI/AAAAAAAAAKI/9wUQcewoYiQ/s1600-h/SL380124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210502444006489426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SE9sXcxPvVI/AAAAAAAAAKI/9wUQcewoYiQ/s320/SL380124.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SE9tSClC7PI/AAAAAAAAAKY/a7a7rXBcVxQ/s1600-h/SL380120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210503450588278002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SE9tSClC7PI/AAAAAAAAAKY/a7a7rXBcVxQ/s320/SL380120.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SE9s7mgmDlI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/ZmQBpOMKtiE/s1600-h/SL380123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210503065096293970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SE9s7mgmDlI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/ZmQBpOMKtiE/s320/SL380123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />10th primary growing on both wings<br />1 tail feather growing<br />Primary coverts, secondaries & alula all fresh<br />Active body moult<br />Wing 156mm<br />Tarsus 23.1mm<br />Mass 41.7gRob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-77580507560351145352008-05-27T10:01:00.015+01:002008-12-08T21:00:50.963+00:00News from the 2008 field season<span style="color:#cc0000;">May 26th-27th:</span> A wet first night by all accounts, but Renata and Jaime report 28 birds caught -a great start to the season!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">A small flock of stormies ready for take-off</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEGDDw8ShWI/AAAAAAAAAIg/r2HGf1t1-Gg/s1600-h/DSCF7521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206586744917624162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEGDDw8ShWI/AAAAAAAAAIg/r2HGf1t1-Gg/s320/DSCF7521.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">May 27th-28th:</span> More rain, but another 20 birds. A Norwegian ringed bird was the highlight.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">May 28th-29th:</span> Rob's first night on the cliffs (having just finished all his exam marking). 58 birds caught -a remarkable catch for this stage in the season, perhaps due to the trial run of our "secret weapon" - more news on this to follow...<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Renata releasing the 100th bird of the year</span></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEGDZA8ShXI/AAAAAAAAAIo/mrWQmLAgQ3A/s1600-h/DSCF7522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206587109989844338" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEGDZA8ShXI/AAAAAAAAAIo/mrWQmLAgQ3A/s320/DSCF7522.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">May 29th-30th:</span> a Fishermens' strike meant no boats offshore, but still 23 stormies caught.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jaime & Gui ringing stormies in front of this year's deluxe accommodation. Note the Jo Lello Memorial Picnic Blanket.</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEGE3w8ShYI/AAAAAAAAAIw/5hsBPJaR7p4/s1600-h/DSCF7523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206588737782449538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEGE3w8ShYI/AAAAAAAAAIw/5hsBPJaR7p4/s320/DSCF7523.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">May 30th-31st:</span> The fishermens' strike continues, but the Secret Weapon was deployed and 33 stormies were caught. Highlights on another soggy night were a Spanish-ringed bird, and some dramatic lightning flashes over the sea. Thanks to Jaime, who departs today (after eating record amounts of strawberry jam), for his hard work and enthusiasm.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">May 31st-June 1st:</span> Another 34 stormies, bringing the total to 196 birds in just 6 nights. Volunteer reinforcements arriving this afternoon :)<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 1st-2nd:</span> Our new volunteers have arrived! Left to Right: Ida, Jenny, Lucy, Ingrid, Esther & Vanessa. A night off from the cliffs was much appreciated by Rob & Renata.<br /><br /><strong>At the Cape</strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEae8g8ShaI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4E0qQwowBj4/s1600-h/DSCF7541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208024781572703650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEae8g8ShaI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4E0qQwowBj4/s320/DSCF7541.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 2nd-3rd:</span> Fewer birds around tonight -a British ringed bird was a highlight. The fishermens' strike continues so no boats inshore to bring us stormies.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEaeuA8ShZI/AAAAAAAAAI4/XxBMKvyt0wU/s1600-h/DSCF7551.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208024532464600466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEaeuA8ShZI/AAAAAAAAAI4/XxBMKvyt0wU/s320/DSCF7551.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 3rd-4th:</span> Even fewer birds on a breezy night -we all got a bit of sleep. A Cory's shearwater was heard calling to our storm petrel tape in the darkness.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Continuing the tradition of eating enormous meals at Cruzinha</span></strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEafRQ8ShbI/AAAAAAAAAJI/2F-8TRIL1HM/s1600-h/DSCF7548.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208025138054989234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEafRQ8ShbI/AAAAAAAAAJI/2F-8TRIL1HM/s320/DSCF7548.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 4th-5th: </span>A cool night in the sea breeze, but the fishing boats were back and 30 stormies were caught, including a UK-ringed bird. Other highlights included Gui's candlelit birthday celebration on the cliffs at midnight, at which he was presented with his own sponsored storm petrel. Lowlights included someone sitting on a teabag.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Gui with his sponsored stormie: <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sponsor_a_stormie_2">http://www.justgiving.com/sponsor_a_stormie_2</a></span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx621wvsfI/AAAAAAAAAJo/g3-m_VnFE-E/s1600-h/DSCF7559.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209673951523877362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx621wvsfI/AAAAAAAAAJo/g3-m_VnFE-E/s320/DSCF7559.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 5th-6th:</span> Local bird ringers Leila and Anna joined us for another productive night with 28 stormies caught and several others bouncing out of the nets. Another Cory's shearwater was heard and highlights included a French ringed bird and the re-filming of the Blair Witch Project using the infra-red video camera.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 6th-7th:</span> A strange night, which got off to a bad start for Rob when a stray dog ran off with his sardine sandwiches! With the Cardiff students on their Big Night Out in Portimao, we were a joined on the cliff by Sara Roda -a long time friend of the project -and Bebe and her foster daughter Diana. Once darkness fell and in perfect conditions, we got off to a busy start with 11 birds in the first hour, but then the rate fell and we finished on 32 birds including 1 from the UK. Other highlights included a mole cricket that flew into the net at dusk, and a lot of sleep for Rob and Tim later in the night.<br /><br /><strong>The mole cricket.</strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx26CKpg1I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/NZZdgtpJSSI/s1600-h/DSCF7576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209669608346846034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx26CKpg1I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/NZZdgtpJSSI/s320/DSCF7576.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 7th: Daytime boat trip -Mike Whale!</span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx7z60N5ZI/AAAAAAAAAJw/bQEXBNpvsrM/s1600-h/DSCF7585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209675000852637074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx7z60N5ZI/AAAAAAAAAJw/bQEXBNpvsrM/s320/DSCF7585.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />European storm petrel & Cory's shearwater, by Renata<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx9QjItdtI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/af2WUA7JWf0/s1600-h/DSC_2040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209676592223975122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx9QjItdtI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/af2WUA7JWf0/s320/DSC_2040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx9sRxpmoI/AAAAAAAAAKA/LrNRWQeInQo/s1600-h/DSC_1971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209677068600187522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx9sRxpmoI/AAAAAAAAAKA/LrNRWQeInQo/s320/DSC_1971.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes its a whale, its just not a good photo -Ida, can you send me a bt=etter one?<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx6TTtT_mI/AAAAAAAAAJg/SXOt5pmG6Y4/s1600-h/DSCF7590.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209673341087252066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx6TTtT_mI/AAAAAAAAAJg/SXOt5pmG6Y4/s320/DSCF7590.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 7th-8th:</span> Last night on the cliff for the Cardiff students, some of whom got straight onto the train at 6am! 30 stormies and no sardine sandwich problems -a good night!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Esther with storm petrel</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx43uMIzfI/AAAAAAAAAJY/66_KBN6o_2c/s1600-h/DSCF7549.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209671767647899122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SEx43uMIzfI/AAAAAAAAAJY/66_KBN6o_2c/s320/DSCF7549.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">June 8th-9th:</span> We are all exausted -a much needed night off :) Our new vols have arrived; Rosie, John, Melissa, Sarah and Ricardo. We spent the evening hatching plans for tomorrow's voyages of discovery...Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-728492168001840152008-05-13T10:46:00.007+01:002008-12-08T21:00:51.090+00:00International UpdatesHere is the latest batch of ringing information on storm petrels that we ringed in Portugal in 2007 and have since been recaptured further north along the migration route. See also a previous posting for 6 other recaptures of stormies ringed during the 2007 field season.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03322.</span></strong> Ringed on the night of 23-24/05/2007 at Ponta da Alamadena, Algarve, Portugal. Recaptured at C. Touriñan, NW <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">SPAIN</span></strong> on 29/06/2007.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03356.</span></strong> Ringed on the night of 01-02/06/2007 at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal, when it weighed just 23.9g. Recaptured by Margaret & David Thorne & Denis White on the Isle of May, Firth of Forth, <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">SCOTLAND</span></strong>, on the night of 06-07/08/2007, weighing 30.1g.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03496.</span> </strong>Ringed on the night of 09-10/06/2007 at Ponta da Alamadena, Algarve, Portugal. Recaptured at C. Touriñan, NW <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">SPAIN</span></strong> on 23/06/2007, then recaptured AGAIN at Ferrol, NW <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">SPAIN</span></strong> on 04/07/2007.<br /><strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03523.</span></strong> Ringed on the night of 09-10/06/2007 at Ponta da Alamadena, Algarve, Portugal. Recaptured at C. Touriñan, NW <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">SPAIN</span></strong> on 23/06/2007.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03856.</span></strong> Ringed on the night of 16-17/06/2007 at Ponta da Alamadena, Algarve, Portugal. Recaptured at C. Touriñan, NW <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">SPAIN</span></strong> on 25/07/2007.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>CEMPA N03896.</strong></span> Ringed on the night of 17-18/06/2007 at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal. Recaptured by Yann Kolbeinsson at the island of Elliðaey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, South <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">ICELAND</span> </strong>on the night of 17-18/08/2007.<br /><br />These details have all been submitted to the national ringing schemes in the normal way.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">A Map of the Portuguese ringing site and the Spanish recapture sites, from Google Earth.</span><br /></strong><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SCmd9HwMv_I/AAAAAAAAAIY/RUfazCCOUQA/s1600-h/Spanish+controls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199860918154739698" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SCmd9HwMv_I/AAAAAAAAAIY/RUfazCCOUQA/s320/Spanish+controls.jpg" border="0" /></a>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-7822816186782434932008-05-12T14:35:00.000+01:002008-12-08T21:00:51.272+00:00Volunteers wanted for 2008<div>Storm Petrels are tiny sparrow-sized seabirds that traverse the globe on their long-distance migrations. They are the focus of one of Cardiff University and A Rocha Portugal's long-running research projects on the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.<br /><br />A unique opportunity exists to take part in the next field season of Storm Petrel research hosted by the A Rocha Bird Observatory on the Algarve coast of Portugal, in collaboration with Cardiff University. During May-June 2008, paying volunteers are being sought to join one of four teams spending 7 days and nights on the southern Portuguese coast, catching and studying these remarkable little seabirds. No previous experience is needed, just enthusiasm and a reasonable level of fitness.<br /><br />For more details of costs & logistics, or to hear more about the project, please contact Dr Rob Thomas, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF103US.<br />Email: ThomasRJ@Cardiff.ac.uk<br />Tel. / answerphone: 0044 (0)29 20757226</div><div>Mobile: 0044 (0)790 4565448</div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/R_jTLvv0xYI/AAAAAAAAAIA/OP4rSIEd98k/s1600-h/PICT0344.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186127169666205058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/R_jTLvv0xYI/AAAAAAAAAIA/OP4rSIEd98k/s320/PICT0344.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/R_jSqvv0xXI/AAAAAAAAAH4/rgq0r6FB29A/s1600-h/PICT0344.JPG"></a></div>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-60501471224256887892008-05-11T14:45:00.000+01:002008-12-08T21:00:51.390+00:00Developments on the stormy coast<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SChRX3wMv-I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/IVuqKpbG6YA/s1600-h/Burgau+advert.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/SChRX3wMv-I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/IVuqKpbG6YA/s320/Burgau+advert.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199495240344190946" /></a><br />This advert was spotted recently in a glossy magazine -click on the image for a larger version. The view may look familiar to those of you who have been storm petrelling with A Rocha teams before...<br /><br />...yes, that cliff in the background is where we walk out to the mist-netting site to catch our storm petrels! In fact, if you look very closely maybe you can make out a small band of exhausted biologists staggering back to their minibus.<br /><br />The luxury accommodation is being built at the top of the bumpy track down to the beach where we park the van. It is also at the end of our daily little-owl survey route, a breeding site for red-necked nightjars and southern grey shrikes, and where we had glimpses of eagle owls on several occasions last summer. <br /><br />Is this development -complete with yet another 18-hole golf course- what is needed in a National Park? Or is it the latest stage in the ongoing urbanisation of a wild and beautiful coastline? Or is it just the perfect retirement home for ageing storm petrellers with an interest in golf? Answers on a holiday postcard please! Or click on the link below to add a comment.Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-76847759780467763632008-04-06T03:05:00.002+01:002008-12-08T21:00:51.508+00:00Storm petrels at sea<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/R_jgr_v0xZI/AAAAAAAAAII/bOMaOT0IoBs/s1600-h/Stormies+horizontal.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/R_jgr_v0xZI/AAAAAAAAAII/bOMaOT0IoBs/s320/Stormies+horizontal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186142017368147346" /></a><br />These are some pen and ink drawings of foraging storm petrels. The drawings were made from freeze-frame video images taken at sea off the Portuguese coast. You can click on the image for a larger version.Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-49289994284926959382007-08-26T21:22:00.000+01:002008-12-08T21:00:51.670+00:00International newsThe hard graft in Portugal in early summer has been paying dividends, with several of "our" Portuguese-ringed stormies being recaptured around the coasts of NW Europe.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03448.</span> Ringed on the night of 08-09/06/2007 at Ponta da Alamadena, Algarve, Portugal.<br />Recaptured by Bernard Cadiou on Banneg Island, Molène archipelago, Brittany, France, on the night of 9-10/08/2007<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03460.</span> Ringed on the night of 08-09/06./2007 at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal.<br />Recaptured by Bob Harris on Eilean nan Ron, Scotland on the night of 21-22nd July.<br />See the Eilean Nan Ron blog page for more seabird shenanigans! <a href="http://eileannanron.blogspot.com/">http://eileannanron.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03533</span> ringed on the night of 09-10/06/2007 at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal.<br />Recaptured by Declan Clarke at Sheepland Harbour which is on the southern side of the entrance to Strangford Lough, Ireland, on 26/08/2007.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03572.</span> Ringed on the night of 10-11/06/2007 at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal.<br />Recaptured by Bernard Cadiou on Banneg Island, Molène archipelago, Brittany, France, on the night of 8-9/08/2007.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03674.</span> Ringed on the night of 13-14/06/2007 at Ponta da Alamdena, Algarve, Portugal.<br />Recaptured by Adrian George on the Isle of Muck, Scotland (info via Sara Roda & Ed Drewitt!)<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">CEMPA N03876</span> ringed on the night of 17-18/06/2007 at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal.<br />Recaptured by Declan Manley at Annagh Head, Co. Mayo, Ireland, on 18/08/2007.<br /><br />These details will all be submitted to the national ringing schemes in the normal way.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Photo of Bernard Cadiou's mist nets on Banneg Island, Brittany, where 2 Portuguese-ringed stormies were caught on successive nights in August 2007.</strong><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>The view is </strong><strong>looking out towards the La Jument lighthouse and Ouessant Island where Auré Audevard has been ringing petrels this year.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RtHxCgdCoCI/AAAAAAAAAG4/SrxIjqtvbuI/s1600-h/mist-net_on_Banneg_Island_Brittany.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103124878161256482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RtHxCgdCoCI/AAAAAAAAAG4/SrxIjqtvbuI/s320/mist-net_on_Banneg_Island_Brittany.jpg" border="0" /></a>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-20868592831006484112007-08-09T12:15:00.000+01:002008-12-08T21:00:51.790+00:00Newly hatched!Many congratulations to Renata & André on the safe arrival of Raquel on July 24th -a little sister for Edgar!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Rrr3uL0BEdI/AAAAAAAAAGw/tLwUnvgf6Zc/s1600-h/Picture_015_(2).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096658301140144594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Rrr3uL0BEdI/AAAAAAAAAGw/tLwUnvgf6Zc/s320/Picture_015_(2).jpg" border="0" /></a>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-59991149845169006472007-07-31T16:06:00.000+01:002008-12-08T21:00:52.033+00:00...and another one!Auré and friends have done it again -caught another Portuguese-ringed storm petrel on Oussant in Brittany. This time its NO3166, who was ringed by Earthwatch team 3 at Ponta da Almadena on the night of 22-23/6/2006 -a night when we caught just 2 stormies (see, I told you it was worth the pain! -Rob).<br />Here is a great photo of N03166 in Brittany, taken by Auré on 30/7/2007.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Rq9SYr0BEcI/AAAAAAAAAGo/LbL_SO3vqnU/s1600-h/Oceanite_tempete_ad_1B_30072007_-_Ouessant.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093380287610556866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/Rq9SYr0BEcI/AAAAAAAAAGo/LbL_SO3vqnU/s320/Oceanite_tempete_ad_1B_30072007_-_Ouessant.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click here for Aure's photography webpage <a href="http://audevard.aurelien.free.fr/">http://audevard.aurelien.free.fr/</a>Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29597157.post-28393840542575134102007-07-24T08:57:00.000+01:002008-12-08T21:00:53.574+00:00News from FranceAuré Audevard has been in touch via email to say that one of the stormies ringed in Portugal last summer has been recaptured in Brittany, NW France.<br /><br />N03181 was initially caught at our main study site at Ponta da Almadena, Algarve, Portugal just before midnight on 24-25/05/2006 - a night when we caught a grand total of 3 birds! Hopefully this will be a delayed reward for the hard work put in by Earthwatchers Walaa, Polly & Tom!<br /><br />It was subsequently identified as a female by Renata, via molecular sexing methods using DNA extracted from the shaft of a small breast feather.<br /><br />Auré's ringng team recaptured the bird on the night of 15-16/7/2007, on the Island of Ouessant, off the westerly tip of Brittany<br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">A map of Brittany from Google Earth</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW0dL0BEXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/gy6NM95cXCI/s1600-h/Ouessant_in_Brittany.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090673367292383602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW0dL0BEXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/gy6NM95cXCI/s320/Ouessant_in_Brittany.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The ringing site on Ouessant Island</span></strong><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW0dL0BEXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/gy6NM95cXCI/s1600-h/Ouessant_in_Brittany.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW1Eb0BEaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/RYxGPSeSgFQ/s1600-h/Site_baguage_oceanite_21072007_-_Ouessant.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090674041602249122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW1Eb0BEaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/RYxGPSeSgFQ/s320/Site_baguage_oceanite_21072007_-_Ouessant.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ghostly bird-ringers</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW1ML0BEbI/AAAAAAAAAGg/WhgncCuajnQ/s1600-h/bagueur_fantome.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090674174746235314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW1ML0BEbI/AAAAAAAAAGg/WhgncCuajnQ/s320/bagueur_fantome.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Waiting for the birds to arrive</span></strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW0570BEYI/AAAAAAAAAGI/GCSIqaGEMzk/s1600-h/mise_en_place_des_filets_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090673861213622658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2WVtWHahp8/RqW0570BEYI/AAAAAAAAAGI/GCSIqaGEMzk/s320/mise_en_place_des_filets_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>These details will be submitted to the national ringing schemes in the normal way.</div>Thanks to Auré for the news and the photos -good luck for catching more Portuguese-ringed stormies!Rob Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440196819122337923noreply@blogger.com1