NLRG was formed in 1957 to help in the study of birds in the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society area. There are currently 12 active ringers. Species currently being studied include: Pied Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Sand Martin, Twite, Goosander, Oystercatcher and Grey Wagtail. Migration has been studied for 28 years at Heysham. We welcome anyone who wants to observe, help or perhaps wish to become a ringer. Photo: A Heysham-ringed Twite on the Mull of Kintyre (thanks to Eddie Maguire)

Saturday 22 January 2011

Mobile Black-tailed Godwits

Two recent colour ringed sightings of Black-tailed Godwits throw further light on their movements between estuaries. Both were ringed during the breeding season in Iceland making a total of 19 to date from the breeding grounds.

YN-RX shows just how mobile they can be on the wintering area. It was ringed as an adult male on 11th July 2009 in Iceland and first seen on the Dee estuary on 20th September and seen almost daily there for the next eight days. It then appeared on the Eric Morecambe Complex near Leighton Moss on October 5th, was back on the Dee on October 8th then on the Eric Morecambe Complex again on 11th October.

This is not the first bird to show similar movements. Another adult male was seen on the Eric Morecambe Complex on September 26th was on the Dee on October 9th and back on the Eric Morecambe Complex on 17 October.

These birds were probably on migration and although good numbers winter on the estuaries of North West England. Colour ringing has shown that many move on and winter in Ireland France and Portugal.

John

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