Pied Flycatchers, Plovers and Peregrines

Friday, June 7th 2019

With the bird breeding season well under way, members of the Swaledale Ringing Team are never bored! Some of the latest chicks to hatch out in the small nest boxes are the most interesting. Pied Flycatchers are summer visitors that winter in West Africa. They choose to nest in mature Oak woodland and will often make their home in a nestbox. This adult male was observed catching moths and returning to a box to feed them to its young.

The chicks, which appeared on an earlier blog as blue eggs, were just the right size to be ringed. They all appeared to be fit and healthy.

Out on the moor, many waders have had their chicks too. Recently, the first Golden Plover chicks of the year were ringed. These are extremely difficult to spot as they are so well camouflaged that they look just like a piece of Sphagnum Moss. It is hoped that they will survive the torrential rainfall and unusually cool night time temperatures for the time of year.

The team are privileged to monitor Peregrine Falcon nests too. In this one, only one chick was found and it was well developed, perhaps being an 'only child' has its benefits in the raptor world! The dark primary feathers were well formed and it won't be long before this bird can fly.

In another nest, two healthy chicks were discovered, These were much younger and were just the perfect age to be ringed. Here is one of them having been returned to the nest safely. You can just make out the metal BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) ring on its right leg. They are also fitted with orange plastic rings that have black letters on them on the left leg. This enables the individuals to be identified by a bird watcher through a telescope.


(0) Comments:

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


Leave a Comment:

Please complete this field, it's required. Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?


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


Reserve Access: Open, Field Centre Closure Tues 17th June

Wednesday 4th June 2025 |

Access is currently as normal and the reserve and field centre are open as usual.

 

The Field Centre will be closed on Tuesday 17th June for one day. The reserve is still open.

The Field Centre will resume normal opening hours on Wednesday 18th June.

Apologies for any inconvenience.



Dragonfly Walk

Sunday 20th July 2025 | 1pm-3pm

Spot dragonflies and damselflies on this guided walk led by dragonfly county recorder Keith Gittens. Enjoy a leisurley walk around the reserve’s ponds and pools, and learn all about the Odonata species found at Foxglove Covert.

Donate what you can.

Bookings close Friday 18th July.

Foxglove Covert is now taking bookings via Eventbrite.

Click Here to Book

Or visit foxglovecovertlnr.eventbrite.com



VIEW ALL EVENTS

Recent Blog Posts

Blog Archive