NLRG was formed in 1957 to help in the study of birds in the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society area. There are currently 12 active ringers. Species currently being studied include: Pied Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Sand Martin, Twite, Goosander, Oystercatcher and Grey Wagtail. Migration has been studied for 28 years at Heysham. We welcome anyone who wants to observe, help or perhaps wish to become a ringer. Photo: A Heysham-ringed Twite on the Mull of Kintyre (thanks to Eddie Maguire)

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Little Egrets Move North


Photo Brian Howson

i am certain every birder is aware of the build up of Little Egrets over the past few years. Locally numbers have reached a peak this August with a least 80 roosting at Leighton Moss and foraging mainly along the coast. Already this year we have sighted four birds carrying colour rings and have received details of two of these. Both were ringed as nestlings near Bangor in North Wales. The first was ringed in June 2009 and seen on the Lune estuary the following June. The second was ringed in June 2010 and was seen on the Allen Pool near Leighton Moss on 20th August. This bird shows that some at least move north shortly after fledging. Quite a lot of the birds feeding on the salt marshes are juveniles. Previous sightings involved birds ringed as nestlings in Kent and in South Wales.

We await with interest receiving the details of the other two birds and would welcome any further sightings of colour ringed birds. They are ringed above the knee(see photo)so are easy to see. The colour ring has a number or letter engraved on it. Please note on which leg each colour ring is present.

Postscript
We received today ringing details of the other two colour ringed birds. One was ringed as a nestling at Bangor in North Wales in June 2009 and see at Runcorn in Cheshire on 3/1/2010. So this makes three birds from this site. The other was ringed on May 31st this year, as a nestling, near Louth in Lincolnshire and again shows how quickly birds move after fledging.

John

No comments: