A recent batch of 62 recoveries from the BTO brought some
interesting info, all except 4 were of birds re-trapped by other ringers. We had
reports of 9 Sand Martins from France bringing the total we have had reported
on migration through France to 55. A juvenile ringed at the Lune colonies on 15
July was reported 933 km to the south 24 days later. Three Reed Warbler were
also reported in France bringing the group’s total from France to 30. One of them was 6 years
old when re-trapped. More unusual was a Reed Warbler from Belgium bringing
our total from there to 5. Intrigues me that they
cross the North Sea so early in their migration south. Four Sedge Warblers from
France on southerly migration brings the
Group’s total in France to 50. The recoveries also included details of re-sightings of Belgium and Czech Republic
Mediterranean Gulls which regularly winter here. The Czech bird is in its 12th
year.
Quite a few of the recoveries were of birds that we usually
think of as residents or at best short
distance partial migrants. Pride of place must go to 2 Long-tailed Tits
ringed from a group of 5 on 11th
October and caught 36 days later 69 km
south in Cheshire. We have many retraps and recoveries suggesting this species
rarely wanders more than 15 kms, but obviously some do occasionally. In 1993 we
had 2 birds which moved 306 km north in just 19days. A juvenile Cetti’s Warbler
ringed in mid-July near Wakefield was caught at Middleton 106 kms WNW and 68 days later. Goldfinch have become
common garden feeding birds in recent year. One ringed at feeder on 5th
December 2011 was caught in January 2015 264 km
W in Co Tyrone Northern Ireland. A Bearded Tit ringed as a nestling this
year and colour ringed as a juvenile was sighted in early October 30 km WSW , only the third Bearded Tit in recent
years to have moved away from Leighton RSPB
Reserve. Finally a Greenfinch ringed October 2nd was found
freshly dead 128 km NW 20 days later.
John
