After the ringing week on Aride Island, Manuel and I spent 1.5 days ringing on Cousin Island. Lesser and Brown Noddies were on top of the list for ringing, while Seychelles Fody had the most recaptures. Bridled Terns were the most exciting catch, using Manuel’s large mesh net. Another new ringing species for this trip was some Zebra Doves. Manuel again caught a Moorhen (an immature bird) with his hand-net. No Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were ringed but we enjoyed listening to their haunting calls while watching the sunset from Cousin’s peak.
Recaptures
A Madagascar Turtle Dove was recaptured that had been ringed by me on my first visit to Cousin in 2011!
Table. Ringing totals on Cousin Island, 18-19 August 2019
| Species | Latin | Ringed | Retrapped | Totals |
| White-tailed Tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus | 8 | 8 | |
| Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | 1 | 1 | |
| Fairy Tern | Gygis alba | 5 | 5 | |
| Common (Brown) Noddy | Anous stolidus | 24 | 1 | 25 |
| Bridled Tern | Sterna anaethetus | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Lesser Noddy | Anous tenuirostris | 48 | 1 | 49 |
| Zebra Dove | Geopelia striata | 3 | 3 | |
| Seychelles Sunbird | Cinnyris dussumieri | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Seychelles Fody | Foudia sechellarum | 18 | 14 | 32 |
| Madagascar Turtle-Dove | Nesoenas picturata | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Totals | 117 | 20 | 137 |
Thanks to Claire and Nature Seychelles for hosting us, and thanks to the Seychelles Warbler team for use of their nets and poles.
Would you like to ring tropical birds in the Seychelles? Book a trip with Birds4Africa!
