As the daytime temperatures where approaching 30°C and we had mistnets set up we could not go on long walks as we had to check our nets regularly to prevent entangled birds from overheating so birding was restricted to the immediate vicinity of the campsite. I was extremely excited, on approaching one of the nets, to see that we had caught a Carp's Tit which would have been a ringing lifer for me. I was bitterly disappointed however to see that another ringer had beaten me to this bird which was sporting a shiny metal ring. Perusal of the SAFRING website indicated that only 75 of these birds had ever been ringed but that this was the 13th recapture/control so it was a worthy second prize. I did get a ringing lifer shortly thereafter in the form of a Cardinal Woodpecker. I had read about the stiff tail feathers of woodpeckers which are used as props when they are hanging onto trees and doing what woodpeckers do but I must say I was quite surprised to find out just how stiff and hard these retrices actually are.