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)

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Captive-reared Lesser Redpoll traced

There have been a few examples of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin bearing aviculture rings and then migrating with wild birds and being subsequently caught by ringers.  We have had two examples of Lesser Redpoll in the last two springs at Heysham Obs

The 2012 bird was traced to 'ornithologiste francais' (uncertain of the actual spelling here as cannot find a google link), but there were no responses to enquiries

A further individual bearing a closed ring was part of a northbound movement of Lesser Redpoll on the morning of 7th May 2013.  Professor David Norman alerted us to the origin of this bird and contact was made with the secretary of the International Ornithological Association, Alan Robinson.  Alan acted immediately to trace origin of the bird within the limitations of the Data Protection Act (town or general area only) and the bird was traced to Chelmsford, Essex where it was ringed as an aviculturally-reared nestling in 2011

This is also the general direction from which many of our long-distance Lesser Redpolls bearing BTO rings have come.  Therefore presumably this bird joined wintering Lesser Redpolls on feeders and became part of the subsequent spring migratory movement.

Thanks to Professor Norman and Alan Robinson for help determining the origin of this bird   The IOA website can be seen here:
http://www.ioa-com-uk.org/main_page.html

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