New Year...New Birds!

The wintry start to 2026 produced a handful of species that we don't often get the chance to ring. These included a Fieldfare, a Starling and six Linnets. These were the first Fieldfare and Linnets to be ringed by RRG since 2019 and 2021 respectively. The Starling was the first to be ringed outside of an RRG garden since 2020.

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) LK33464, age 5, male. Maidenhead, Berkshire.

 

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) LK33463, age 6, female. Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Additionally, during January, the Group ringed 13 Redwing, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 6 Chaffinch and 8 Reed Bunting. After not catching any during 2025, a male Yellowhammer added some more variety to the usual Blue Tits and Great Tits.

Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) AZJ8146, age 5, male. Bedfont, Greater London. 

Note the 3 old greater coverts, which were grown in the nest before fledging.