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)

Friday 22 January 2016

Firecrest goes to Scotland

Just received recovery details of a Firecrest that was ringed at Heysham on 14th September and found dead in the grill of a car at Elgin (Moray) 401 km N 115 days after ringing! The car had been driven that day between Wick and Elgin but the finder remembers striking a small bird as he approached Elgin. He has supplied us with a photo of the dead bird and it certainly looks fresh. So what an amazing recovery. Just a pity that it had to die.

Five other Firecrests have been ringed at Heysham since 1998. Three of these were in spring , of the three  caught in autumn this preset bird is the earliest by a month so had plenty of time to drift north before choosing to winter in Moray. An interesting example of a bird making an unexpected journey and shows the value of ringing.
Looking  at the online ringing reports this is the 4th longest movement of a Firecrest in Britain. Interestingly the one making the longest  movement from Norfolk to Wick did so in a similar time frame to the present bird.
John

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