Special Birds

At this time of year the bird ringing volunteers are very busy, out during the day and often for many hours in the evenings.  Nest boxes both in Foxglove and on the training area are checked.  If the chicks are old enough they are ringed, if not the box must be revisited.  Travelling from one area to another, any wader chicks that are spotted are ringed, 100 so far.  The total number of Tawny Owl chicks ringed is 49, one of the best seasons for many years.  

The ringers are also involved in ringing very special birds, Peregrines and Ring Ouzels.

Peregrines do not nest in convenient places and climbers assist with collecting the chicks from the nest and lowering them down for the ringers.  Whilst the chicks are ringed the climbers hang around!

 Once ringed the chicks are very carefully pulled back up and returned to the nest.

Three chicks were ringed and one addled egg remained.  All were in good condition and well fed.  Hopefully all will fledge.  Here Sandra rings one of the young females.

Ring Ouzels prefer the ground on which to make their nest.  These will not be long before they fledge.

CES 3 today was quiet as many birds are still guarding territories and sitting on eggs and young.  However it was good to see our first fledglings, Song Thrush, Dunnock and Robin.  These birds nest early and so have missed the heavy rain, which may well cause problems for ground nesting birds.