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, 9 July 2013

Bearded Tits Continue to Prosper but Reed Warblers Continue to Falter

Our Bearded Tit ringing at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve continues to be productive. We have now caught  30 juveniles compared to only 17 in the whole of 2012. Of these12 had been ringed as nestlings in our wigwam nest boxes, We ringed 21 nestlings so survival has been good and there are probably more to come as we caught two today. July is normally a good month for captures  before they start in moult late in the month and on through August and they then become  quite difficult to catch

By comparison Reed Warblers appear to be present in smaller  numbers than usual. To date we have caught 66 adults this compares with 95 in the same period last year and ringing effort has been very similar. In recent years we have usually just exceeded 200 adult Reed Warblers by the end of the season. Juveniles are just starting to appear now and this usually results in more adults being caught as they move around or start a second clutch. The oldest bird caught so far this year is in its seventh year, a bit to go yet to catch our oldest bird which was 9 years and 314 days after capture and still going strong.
John

No comments: