Information arrived from French ringers of ring number 8998514 we caught at Cockerham on 5 June 2021.
8998514 - Museum Paris
“Here are the details of a ringed bird you have reported.”
Species: Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
Scheme: FRP
Ring no: 8998514
Ringing details: Age: 3 (juvenile)
Ringing date: 19 Aug 2020 at 23:30:00
Site name: Tour aux Moutons, Donges, Loire-Atlantique, France
Ringer: Paris, -11
Finding details
Age: 4 (adult)
Sex: F
Finding date: 05 Jun 2021 at 08:00:00
Biometrics: Wing: 102.0 mm. Weight: 11.9 g.
Time: 08:00:00hrs
Subsequent Capture: -
Duration: 290 days Distance: 740 km Direction: 356deg (N)
Sand Martin
So not too many surprises there with a first year Sand Martin being caught in France whilst on migration to North Africa. 8998514 may have been born in Lancashire, possibly at Cockerham Quarry to where it returned to breed in 2021 as an adult female.
Donges, (as named above) is a site of major natural significance on the Loire Estuary where a large part of the 200 hectares site is protected in an “original natural state.” The area contains the single biggest bank of reed beds on the Loire Estuary.
Since 2003, the Loire Atlantique Association for Ornithological Knowledge and Research (ACROLA) has been carrying out bird ringing operations every summer in the reed beds located to the south of the East Donges facility, to study post-breeding migration of birds which use the zone as a staging area.
Loire Atlantique, France.
Swallows and Sand Martins use the reed beds as a night time sanctuary during migration time. The reeds also hold large populations of small passerines such as Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Aquatic Warbler, as residents and migrants. The latter species Acrocephalus paludicola, Aquatic Warbler is a critically endangered species.
Back at Cockerham today I found again the Great Egret that went missing for a few weeks. Of course this bird could be a different one as its habits are different by spending 90% of each day in secluded trees, out of sight out of mind. It’s nearest companions were a single Grey Heron and two Little Egrets.
Great Egret
Near there, a Skylark at last feeding young. And both Oystercatchers and Redshanks with young in tow.
Back soon with more news and views. Stay Tuned.
Linking this post to Eileen's Blogspot and Anni in Texas.
19 comments:
It really is amazing how one can track these birds and their flights. Also good that everyone keeps in touch. Keep well, Diane
Your work with the birds is fascinating!
Thanks for joining the party at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/06/mmmm-magnolia.html
It must be so rewarding to be part of something around the world it seems. Love the Great Egret
Reading about the migrations of birds is wonderful. Amazing that they can fly and navigate so far.
Ringing the birds gives a fascinating insight into the migratory patterns. Without the info in your blog I wouldn't have any idea.
Migrating birds are so fascinating.
It must be incredibly fulfilling to be doing this.
Captivating photos as always ,Phil.
Phil - it must be a thrill every time you receive one of these contacts. How many have you had over the years???
Fascinating information on your Martin with the French Connection. The reed bed background is interesting to me. Some of our coastal areas around Florida have extensive salt marsh reed beds which are used each year by migrating swallows and Purple Martins. Numbers of birds are so great at certain times they appear on weather radar as "clouds".
Summer is here. The birds in local forest and swamp are quieter than normal as they want to keep nest sites secret and are busy carrying food to new chicks.
Thank goodness our temperatures and humidity levels are now almost equal. (+90F and +90%)
Take good care, Phil.
Hello,
It is interesting tracking these birds, seeing where they come from and where they are going.
The Sand Martins are cute and I always enjoy seeing the Great Egrets. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend!
That must be really satisfying. Amazing that these small birds can fly so far and then return to their place of origin.
Hello Phil. Interesting post. it’s always awesome to get to know the bird’s ring information.
Take care,
Hi Phil! :) I think it's so neat about the ringing and how you keep up with the migration! Very very neat. Your photo of the Great Egret is just beautiful!
I'm amazed to learn more about the tracking bands too. So interesting and important for the future! Well done!
I wonder if the birds know they are being tracked!
As soon as I publish my comment, I'm heading to Google for an education on the near extinct aquatic warbler; that's a new species for me.
I loved reading about the ringed bird found in France...it's always exciting (even for a novice, like me).
Enjoy the day and thank you for taking time to share this with us birders!!
Love your new header 😊 Diane
Hi Phil,
I'm putting together a wee piece in "Ringers' Roundup" in Scottish Birds about our wintering Linnets in Aberdeenshire. I caught a ringed bird each from Shetland and North Ronaldsay. I believe you guys have caught a few from there. I'd be keen to include any information you might have regarding these movements please?
many thanks,
Raymond Duncan
Hi Raymond. No problem. Send me your email address via Facebook messenger or here (not to publish) and I will pull some info together. Phil
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