Anyone puzzled by the earlier request for information on "brand new" British "A" ring A304xxx on a Sedge Warbler this am? An ancient ringing stock was donated to the group and this ring was seemingly used at Leighton Moss last year. It was bright and shiny like a ring put on yesterday, not one that had been to Africa and back!
Wood Warbler - singing male at the south end of Heysham Head early on
Redstart - female Middleton NR mid-am
Whinchat - 2 Red Nab
Wheatear - not as many as expected - min of 19
Garden Warbler - 5 singing males and one ringed at Middleton - a very good count for spring and many areas were not covered - this species rarely breeds here
Willow Warbler - 'many' slipping through
Swallow - c475 north, unusually in chunks - notably a gang of c200 over the sea - suggesting gangs taking off together having been grounded by the murk? None after the sky cleared
House Martin - min 5
Sand Martin - 1
Swift - 1
Whitethroat - at least 7 new singing males
Arctic Tern - flock of 5 in
Whimbrel - 77 in (42+7+21+7)
Sandwich Tern - 2
Tree Pipit - 2 north
Cetti's Warbler - the original resident male was retrapped (first ringed 2015)
CES ringing Middleton
This was impressive with Sedge Warblers ringed elsewhere comprising 2 French, one Belgian and an ancient ring put on at Leighton Moss after a donation of a ring stock. Other un-ringed arrivals included about 10 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, half a dozen Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Blackcap. This was in four nets in Middleton central marsh
