Last Photos from Gibraltar and Shy Moorhens

Sunday, April 16th 2023

The ringing team are home from Gibraltar. During the last day a beautiful Turtle Dove was caught. These birds are summer migrants to the southern areas of the UK, wintering in West Africa, south of the Sahara. Unfortunately their migration route sees many of them being shot, impacting on the poppulation which in this country has seen an estimated 98% decrease since 1970. They pair for life and breed in mature thorny hedgrows. Seeds of cereals and weeds make up the majority of the Turtle Dove’s diet. Chickweed and Fumitory are enjoyed and they will also take spilt grain and seeds of oilseed rape.

Another bird ringed was the Serin. These birds may be found occaisionally along the south coast. Their diet includes seeds and small invertebrates.

The ringing team at Foxglove are involved in the BTO project to find out more about Moorhens. They have been colour ringing them and asking people to report any sightings of colour ringed birds. Andrew and Jan spotted some Moorhens but they were being shy and hiding their legs! The first one looks as though he is checking them over through the undergrowth,

whilst the second kept its legs firmly underwater!

Please keep looking for the colour ringed Moorhens and report any sightings in the Field Centre. Your help is much appreciated.

(0) Comments:

There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:

Back to Top

Help Support Foxglove

Friends of Foxglove

The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.

More Details

Upcoming Events

Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access

Monday 18th March 2024 |

The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.

Visitors will be able to access the reserve with the use of key fobs provided at the pass office upon entrance to the camp, or will be provided entrance and exit through the access gate by an officer from the camp Guard Room. In this case visitors will need a mobile phone to call the Guard Room when they wish to exit the reserve.

Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.