I recently told blog readers about a Siskin ring number Z470850 that Andy and I ringed at Oakenclough on 23rd March 2016. Just 21 days later on 13 April 2016 it was recaptured near Fortrose, adjacent to the Moray Firth in the highlands of Scotland.
Siskin
Now comes along another similar Siskin recapture, ring number Z470846 (the same ring string as the above), ringed on the same day of 23rd March 2016. This Siskin was also recaptured by other ringers in Scotland, but this one at Abernyte, Perth & Kinross on 8 May 2016. The Moray Firth is 416 kms due north of Oakenclough whereas Perth and Kinrosss is 284 kms due north.
Siskin - Oakenclough to Moray Firth
Siskin - Oakenclough to Abernyte
As we hoped at the time of ringing good numbers of Siskins, there was a good chance that a few would be later found in Scotland or even further north.
Siskins
We also received from the BTO recovery details about a Lesser Redpoll and a Willow Warbler.
A Lesser Redpoll carrying ring number D948673 was originally ringed as a first year, a juvenile, on 29th September 2014 at Woolston Eyes, Warrington, Cheshire by the Merseyside Ringing Group.
We recaptured this bird at Oakenclough on 20th April 2016 when we were able to determine it as an adult female.
The dates of ringing and recapture are both at the peak of migration timing of Lesser Redpolls but clearly we have no indication of where the bird was between times.
A Willow Warbler carrying ring number HPH224 gave us a very interesting recovery. Originally the warbler had been caught on 18th August 2015 at Cissbury Ring, near Worthing, West Sussex by Steyning Ringing Group.
With a wing length of 67mm it could not be sexed but was safely aged as a bird of the year, a juvenile. Willow Warblers do not winter in the UK but make their way to Central Africa where they winter. We can be certain that in August this bird was about to cross the English Channel to France on the next stage of its long journey.
We recaptured the Willow Warbler at Oakenclough on 20thApril 2016 when the by now adult wing length of 69mm allowed it to be be safely assigned as a male. A lack of visits to Oakenclough since April has meant we have been unable to find out if HPH224 stayed around to breed. Hopefully we’ll catch up with it soon and add another piece to the jigsaw.
Lesser Redpoll - Woolston Eyes to Oakenclough
Lesser Redpoll
A Willow Warbler carrying ring number HPH224 gave us a very interesting recovery. Originally the warbler had been caught on 18th August 2015 at Cissbury Ring, near Worthing, West Sussex by Steyning Ringing Group.
With a wing length of 67mm it could not be sexed but was safely aged as a bird of the year, a juvenile. Willow Warblers do not winter in the UK but make their way to Central Africa where they winter. We can be certain that in August this bird was about to cross the English Channel to France on the next stage of its long journey.
Willow Warbler - Worthing to Oakenclough
We recaptured the Willow Warbler at Oakenclough on 20thApril 2016 when the by now adult wing length of 69mm allowed it to be be safely assigned as a male. A lack of visits to Oakenclough since April has meant we have been unable to find out if HPH224 stayed around to breed. Hopefully we’ll catch up with it soon and add another piece to the jigsaw.
Willow Warbler
It's raining today and I've still not completely recovered from my virus, but with luck there'll be news, views and photographs soon.
Check out the new header picture, an Oystercatcher at Pilling.
Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday and Anni's Birding.
16 comments:
Awesome header shot, Phil. Isn't it amazing how far these little guys travel? Have a nice weekend!
redpoll you are my beauty of the day
Marvelous Phil, so very interesting. Brave and sturdy little souls to travel so far. Thank you for a great post!
Hi Phil, I photographed my first seen-in-East-Africa Red-chested Cuckoo in my garden. We lived in a lush valley within the Great Rift Valley. The cuckoo had been ringed. Obviously ringed in Europe some time before. I hope you're feeling better. Greetings Jo
Lovely header, Phil! Such a pretty variety of photos. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hello again, Phil. Thanks for the query on my comment here. I have learnt something today. I see that there are 10 cuckoo species that are intra-continental (Africa) migrants. It makes sense: I have photographed several cuckoo young being reared by host birds in East Africa and here in South Africa. Jacobin Cuckoo; Red-chested Cuckoo; Diderick cuckoo to name a few.
Fascinating stuff about the banding, Phil. I am really enamoured of the way you put it all together. We are about to start banding a colony of Barn Swallows I have been monitoring at SpruceHaven. I can only hope that the pieces of the story will fit together so well. Our licenced bander is an expatriate Brit by the way named Kevin Grundy. He has lived in Canada for about thirty years now and started banding when he was thirteen years old - a fine fellow indeed.
It definitely is a great header photo, so too is the Willow Warbler.
Hope you will be feeling 100% soon!
All the best Jan
Ihope you willbe on themend soon Phil and out birding again. Tis was a very interesting post about these ringd birds and where they turned up again.
These incredible journeys and records are simply fascinating!! Their strengths and instinctive determination of survival astound me. I so enjoyed this write up with maps AND photos!! Thank you, Phil, for sharing your expertise and knowledge with us at I'd Rather B Birdin'.
PS...Yes, I received the book on Friday evening and am on Chapter 4 this morning. The father, for now, is so enthusiastic and his words sure do paint a picture of their journey into day 5. I am enjoying it very much. Thanks again.
Very informative post Phil. Keep up the good work.
Nice job, Phil. I wonder if the birds get used to being handled?
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Get well soon Phil...........
Great post and banding report, Phil! The Siskins and Redpolls are both beautiful birds. I hope they are doing well there. Enjoy your day!
Wonderful mix of photos.
Always great to hear where these birds have been. Hope you're on the mend soon, and that the rain stops.
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