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, 22 March 2011

More redpolls

Today's catch reinforced yesterdays data, which showed that, after a period of late winter random age/sex selection (or at least equal numbers of males and unsexed 2CY), the start of the (northbound?) migration has seen virtually all the captures being males, with adults in the majority. This is logical with a lot of species and spring migration, territory staking etc etc, so why should Lesser Redpolls be any different?

Another 'proper' Mealy this morning - wing 79mm and a great bird for showing interested local residents the difference between Mealy and Lesser - it even allowed prolonged views in the field. The less said about the mobile phone pics, taken in blindingly bright sunlight, the better!

Need some help this week, please, as I'm very conscious of the fact a good migration morning was missed at Heysham today & I cant take the whole week off work ..........might as well keep going with this study as its pretty interesting, with new birds every morning (except last Saturday) and will hopefully 'dovetail' with the later coastal mig passage at Heysham (and Knott End) in April/early May

Thanks

Pete Marsh

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