Snow Bunting

Adam spent a training day with the Tees Ringing Group near Seal Sands, learning how to use whoosh nets.  A flock of Snow Buntings were the target species.  Once the net was set and baited with millet we waited and watched until the flock came in to feed.

Once the net had been released everyone rushed over and extracted the birds - fifteen Snow Buntings were caught.

It is rare to get the opportunity to ring these birds; only 207 were ringed in the UK during 2011.  While there is a small breeding population (70-100 pairs) of Snow Bunting in the Scottish Highlands, winter is the best time to see them as populations migrate south from Greenland and Iceland as well as Scandinavia.

Thank you to Eric and the Tees Ringing Group for setting up this great opportunity!