Ringing Demo at BBOWT's Woolley Firs Farm (14th Feb)

Ringing at Woolley Firs

The planned ringing demonstration to members of the public went well. Two well attended groups got a tour of the site and a session learning about the benefits of bird ringing. BBOWT told me that there was such demand they had to turn people away which is shows how much interest there is in conservation.

I was rather busy talking all morning and my crew were busy with net rounds and ringing birds, that not many photos were taken. I stole one of some of the ringers present and it wasn't until the public left I was able to pick up the camera again.

Just in time for our last arrival - a male Firecrest (a bird hatched only last year) caught away from the feeders.

Male Firecrest (Carl Hunter Roach)

January 2015

Pied Wagtail (Chris Lamsdell)

Weather forecasts were not helpful this month so much ringing was in gardens or hastily snatched sessions.

Nevertheless 137 birds of 17 species were ringed, the most unusual being 4 Pied Wagtails at Beaconsfield and 3 Fieldfare at Wraysbury (where there were also 8 Bullfinch over two sessions).

43% of those ringed were Blue and Great Tits - mostly across three sessions at Woolley Firs.