A Surprise!
Monday, October 15th 2012
The morning was still and calm as can be seen in this photograph of the lake. At 0730 in quite frosty conditions the bird ringers began putting up the nets.
Ringing takes place throughout the year and 20 years of ringing and CES were celebrated with a cake. Decorations included Foxgloves, birds, an owl and not forgetting the Radio!!
The data set collected over those 20 years is amazing and provides details of longevity, survivability, site fidelity and productivity. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this data over that time - from the bird ringers themselves to the volunteers who maintain net rides, make tea, and tidy up at the end of each session.
During the day a number of interesting species including Goldcrest, several Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Reed Bunting were amongst the birds handled. Surprisingly there were 10 new juvenile and adult Bramblings ringed today. These birds usually visit Foxglove at the turn of the year.
The retraps included a Chaffinch that was at least 7 years old and a Great Tit that was 8 years old.
Removing a bird from the bird bag is always a surprise, but today for the first time in 20 years the small brown bird taken out was the first Tree Sparrow to be caught and ringed on the reserve. 183 birds were processed altogether of 21 different species.
As always with unusual birds, the names of ringers who have not ringed the species are put into a draw. Liz's name was drawn and so her initials are recorded against the details of this bird.
Thank you to everyone who helped today.
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Friday 27th May 2022 | During Reserve Opening Times
A trail around the red route (wheelchair friendly) to find all things red, white and blue! Pick up a clue sheet from the Field Centre for only £1 and learn some amazing facts about British wildlife as you stroll around the reserve.
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The clues will be out for the duration of the Whitsun school holidays (North Yorkshire dates).
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The clues will be out for the duration of the school summer holidays (North Yorkshire dates).
Undergrowth Newsletter
Undergrowth Newsletter Winter 2020/21 Issue 54

Find out what has been going on at the reserve during the lockdown!
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Recent Blog Posts
- Plenty To See
- No Snow, No Hail
- Tawny Owls and Grey Herons
- More Flowers
- Nature
- Moving Slowly Through Spring
- Nesting Time
- Winter Spring
- Warm Days
- Biscoff Cheesecake, Brownies and Bakewell Tarts!
- A Busy Day for Some
- Volunteers at Work
- Around the Reserve
- A Ringing Day
- Flowers at Last!
- More Spring Photos
- Moths!
- A Special Visit
- Spring Has Sprung!
- Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!
- Almost Spring
- Thank you!
- Ringing Resumes!
- Arrival of Spring
- Strong Support
- Back To Work!
- We Are Open!
- Update
- Temporary Closure
- Large, Little and In Between
- The Weather
- A Wild Worky Day!
- Malik and Corrie
- Forest School Fun
- Winter Work
- Preventing The Spread of Bird Flu
- Thank You and Congratulations!
- Job Jobbed!
- Hazel, a Hedge and more High Vis!
- Moths
- Many Happy Returns!
- Winter Scenes at Foxglove
- Sheer Dedication!
- Back to Work
- Happy New Year!
- All Kinds of Weather
- Last Volunteer Day 2021
- Pillwort
- Volunteers at Work
- Winter Work Continues
- Edward the Elf Returns!
- Sunshine and Blue Skies
- More Clearing Up
- December Winter Worky Day
- Dangerous Trees
- Tidying Up After Storm Arwen
- Storm Damage
- Willow Weaving
- Considerate Contributions
- Storm Arwen
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- Never Work With Wildlife
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- Technicolour Nature!
- November Worky Day
- Woodland Work
- All About Fungi
- Look North
- Autumn Views at Foxglove
- Happy Halloween
- Bat Monitoring
- Forest Fun
- Hazel Coppice
- Wildlife Activity Day
- Winter Visitors
- Fungi Walk
- Happy Holidays!
- Bakewells, Banana Cake and Brushcutting!
- A Busy ‘Typical’ Day?
- Wet and Wild!
- Autumn Bird Ringing
- Changing Seasons
- Moths
- Extra Help
- Redwing
- Lively Livestock!
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- Half Term Plans
- Autumn Worky Day
- QAVS Award on Display
- The Beginnings of Autumn
- Weekly Round Up
- Busy Bees
- Views Around the Reserve
- Colours
- Army Welfare Service
- Ringing at the Crater
- Hints of Autumn
- Sightings Various
- Moths Butterflies and a ‘Dragon’
Blog Archive
- Blog Posts from - 2022
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Tim Randall responded on 17th Oct 2012 with...
Congratulations to all involved. A really impressive achievement showing real commitment.