A Ringing Day
Sunday, February 28th 2016
Firstly a continuation from yesterday's blog about 'My Patch'. Walking along Risedale Beck, a photo was needed of the Blackthorn flower buds, just waiting to burst. This group of trees is always the first to open their petals. Sure enough one single flower was open.
Weather was perfect for ringing today, no rain and none forecast, a gentle breeze and sun. It was not long before an adult male Sparrowhawk was returned to the ringing room. It was given the age code 8, which means that it was hatched three or more years ago, but the exact date was unknown. When the data was entered into the computer, the date the bird was ringed was shown, 21st April 2013, when the bird was age code 5, so it was hatched during 2012.
Other older birds recorded included a Great Spotted Woodpecker that was ringed as a juvenile in November 2010, a Chaffinch ringed in June 2011 and a Coal Tit ringed in 2009. A Lesser Redpoll was caught that had been ringed elsewhere. We will get details of its ringing site from the BTO.
When the sun came out some of the bees left their hive to stretch their wings, but they did not fly far from the entrance.
Over the last few days sightings have been recorded on the observation board of a well fed Stoat, Roe Deer and Barn Owl. Greylag Geese have been heard as has the drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Many visitors walked around the reserve, enjoying the sunshine. Thank you to everyone who made visitors welcome, especially in the ringing room.
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Andrew Yarker responded on 28th Feb 2016 with...
I can only echo the comments above and thank the very welcoming and friendly staff and volunteers who made today an truly exceptional visit. I departed with to very happy young boys who released a nuthatch (Oliver 8) and a coal tit (Henry 4). Their visit was topped off with a stroke of the sparrowhawk, a kind summary of the ringing process and a compulsory visit to the dams; where frog spawn was spotted.