We recently received details of a Blue Tit that Paul ringed in his garden in Lancaster during the cold weatherin late January. It was found freshly dead in early April at Catterick Camp North Yorkshire 80 kms. NNE. What makes this exceptional you say?
Well our group has ringed just over 26,000 blue tits over the past 35 years and of those that have been recovered only 12 have moved more than 20 kms. Of these only three (including the present bird) have moved more than 40km. The other two moved 82 kms to near Leeds and 87 kms to near Carlisle.
The Catterick bird probably originated in that area and moved south during what was our coldest winter for several years. The other two birds exhibited similar weather motivated movements. If our recoveries show anything it is a general movement south mainly from South Lakeland to our relatively milder climate near the coast. The numbers of well stocked feeders also probably playing a part.
John
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