Early ringers' catch the birds!

The Group yesterday were pleasantly surprised to catch 117 birds during a morning session starting at 5.00am. This is one of the largest catches we have caught of passerines and allied species. Not only a good catch, but within this total were 11 Kingfishers, definitely a record for one morning.

There was an abundance of young birds in the catch suggesting a good breeding season. The tally was: Blackbird 4; Great Tit 23; Greenfinch 21; Chiffchaff 7; Chaffinch 6; Blue Tit 15; Dunnock 4; Whitethroat 1; Song Thrush 1; Blackcap 4; Robin 3; Reed Warbler 8; Wren 4; Great Spotted Woodpecker 2; Treecreeper 1; Meadow Pipit 1; Kingfisher 11; and Goldfinch 1.

Let's hope this is a good omen for the rest of the summer season.

Two juvenile Kingfishers with a  male on the left and a female on the right
Photographs  Doug Rudge

Recent activity

Early this week the Group moved its activities to another part of the Wetlands containing reed beds, rough ground and hedgerows. Although rain prevented a full mornings activities 38 birds were caught of 11 species. One Blackbird had been ringed at another site in East Devon and obviously preferred a new feeding site!