More Recoveries & Bearded Tit Update

A new batch of recoveries confirming  known movements but with a few surprises. A Sedge Warbler to Devon 15 days after ringing brought  our total from Devon to six. Another from Dorset was our 21st from this county. The surprise was our first Sedge Warbler from Durham ringed on13th September 15 days later it was 88 km to the NE and going in the wrong direction! A case of reverse migration? We have had  at  least five other similar northerly movements in times past.

 Juvenile Reed Warblers were reported from Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex. This makes 6 from   Dorset, 8 from Hampshire and 47 from Sussex from past ringing. A juvenile Sand Martin from Dumfries ringed in a colony on June  16th and caught at one of our colonies on the River Lune 15 days later, showing how early they move and join other colonies probably for roosting on their way south. Another early mover was a Willow Warbler ringed on 23rd June and caught 214 kms south on 28th July. A Lesser Redpoll  ringed on April 6th was caught  in Dumfries 12 days later.

This week we have caught six  new Bearded  Tits at Leighton Moss RSPB to bring our total of new ringed birds for the year to 69 compared to 48 in 2013 and just 17 in 2012. Judging from the undeveloped colours of  their iris four at least were from late broods. Activity on the gritting trays is running down as usual by early December but a pair seen there this week had been ringed together in June and have been recorded together on six occasions since, confirming the early pair formation of juvenile Bearded Tits.
John