Winter ringing project (wrp) 6 & 7, and recent recoveries.

Tuesday 16th was the "best" day in an extended period of settled weather (lack of a breeze with a northerly element), so Andy/Jerry opted to undertake the 6th winter ringing project. It was a cold day which necessitated more frequent checks of the nets than is usual, which maybe resulted in the lowest of this winter's monitoring at 18 + (15). The species mix was Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Blackbird (1), Robin (1), Dunnock 1, Blue Tit 7 + (8), Coal Tit (1), Great Tit 1 + (2), Nuthatch 1 + (1), House Sparrow 1, Goldfinch 5, and Greenfinch 2. The end of the month saw a return to more unsettled weather (incl two more named storms), but Tuesday 30th forecast was ok for wrp 7. Andy and Jerry started but it was soon apparent that it was not "as forecast" with a bit of a breeze (cold NW) and some light drizzle. Consequently the catch was reduced to 19 + (20), with a high proportion of recaptures (as expected), though still with some new Blue Tits turning up. The mix was made up of Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Dunnock 1 + (1), Robin 1, Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 11 + (13), Great Tit 3 + (3), Nuthatch (1), House Sparrow 1, Chaffich (1), and Greenfinch 1.

Our January ringing total was 69 (about average for the last 10 years).

Blue Tit AJD3423 was ringed in rb2 on 22 June 2019 (only re-caught twice - rb2 on 8 August 2019 and at the jetty on 4 Aug 2023) before being found dead on the road at Bronllys, Powys on 17 January 2024 - 1670 days, 10 km, 8 degrees. This is quite a good movement for the species (though not our longest see here), the bird was found on the roadside so it is possibly that it could have been hit nearer the Lake, and became dislodged at Bronllys).

Pete has chased up a French Sedge Warbler that we caught in 2021 (which has "just been received by BTO" same as the last one chased up?? ). FRP 7899519 was ringed as a young bird on 10 August 2016 at Le Bonhomme, Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Leiu, Loire Atlantique, FRANCE, and was caught at the jetty on 9 August 2021 - 1824 days, 551 km, 249 degrees.

Sand Martin BXA0335 was ringed at the jetty on 6 August 2023, and was caught (just across the Channel) on 25 August at Saint-Vigor-D'Ymonville, Seine-Maritime, FRANCE - 19 days, 374 km, 139 degrees.

A ringed Carrion Crow has been seen over the years occasionally perched on the "no landing" signs, and although Mark Waldron had managed to get some images, he eventually could read everything but the starting letter. Ring number FP65907 was ringed at Llangasty on 15 May 2015 with this latest sighting there on 10 January 2024 - 2796 days (a new longevity record for LRGp for this species).

Two of these records help make 2023 become one of our best ever years for foreign movements.