Ringing

CALLING ALL RINGERS – Tickets still available. South East Ringers’ Conference at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory: April 5th 2025 09.30 -17.00 Admission is by ticket only please use this link: https://buytickets.at/sandwichbaybirdobservatory/1582702 Talks will include Waders on the Swale, Nightingales, Motus, Trapping methods, Turtle Doves Raffle to win a pair of binoculars kindly donated by In Focus. Saturday 22nd    …

CALLING ALL RINGERS South East Ringers’ Conference at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory: April 5th 2025 09.30 -17.00 Admission is by ticket only please use this link: https://buytickets.at/sandwichbaybirdobservatory/1582702 Talks will include Waders, Nightingales, Motus, Trapping methods, Turtle Doves Raffle to win a pair of binoculars kindly donated by In Focus. Friday 28th Breezier than forecast but that did keep the frost…

Sunday 26th Although the morning started calm and frosty gales were forecast and started building up by mid-morning. We seized the chance of the quiet bit of the day to ring a few birds. Seventeen were caught of which four were new. The most interesting was a new Robin which weighed 24.4g. 20g is normally a good weight for our…

Sunday 29th The last couple of days have been so foggy that the nets would have been too wet. It seemed at first today might head the same way, particularly as there was no breeze, but the fog held off. Thirty-six birds were caught. At first 30 of these being retraps might seem a bit frustrating but a main aim…

We ringed 972 birds of 28 species in October. This is 431 less than October 2023 but we ringed 477 Lesser Redpoll in October 2023 and just 51 this October. Saturday 30th A mild, overcast, with a bit of a breeze, day. Greenfinch was one of the staples of winter ringing here at one time but the bird we caught…

Wednesday 30th A calm, overcast, morning which dampened the very mild feel. Fifty-six birds were ringed. Top spot went to 28 Lesser Redpoll, which finally seem to be moving. The first Fieldfare (two) of the autumn were ringed along with six Redwings, five Blackbirds and two Song Thrushes. There were also four Chiffchaffs, three Goldcrests, two Blue Tits and singles…

Sunday 28th A cool, overcast, start with only a gentle breeze was a good beginning. Warblers were moving through in big numbers. One-hundred-and-ninety-five were ringed plus there was a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff with rings from elsewhere in the UK. The other birds were also typical of autumn – six Goldcrests and singles of Dunnock, Blackbird, Great Tit and Jay.…

Friday 30th A calm start followed by a stiff breeze mid-morning. To emphasise the approach of autumn Blackcap was the most numerous with 35 of the 48 new birds being Blackcap. Next most numerous was Chiffchaff with five. There were also two Reed Warblers, three Willow Warblers and singles of Robin, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat. Although hirundines could be heard…

Tuesday 30th The heat brought an early end to bird activity and to ringing. There were 12 new birds today. Another juvenile Green Woodpecker contiued their improved performance after a poor year last year. As usual the warblers were birds of the year. Another young Cetti’s Warbler was particularly pleasing. After the poor showing in our nest boxes it is…

Friday 28th It was a team effort, with particular thanks to Guy, the new net 11 boardwalk is in. We have used recycled plastic wood supplied by Plasteco to build a longer lasting walkway. Tuesday 25th Work progressed well on the replacement boardwalk. In the evening a check of the House Martins resulted in 14 more chicks being ringed. It…