Ringing Reports from Chris Hughes

Two recent reports from Chris, including a fascinating retrap of a Belgian blackcap!

6 October

A nice half century of birds this morning including another 8 Blackcap ringed plus 3 Reed Warblers and a Chiffchaff still around. A good morning for Robin and Song Thrush too.

Highlight has to be a Belgian ringed Blackcap caught on the last round on the heath. Inscription on ring was MUSSG. NAT 1000 BRUSSELS and the ring number, shown above the inscription unlike UK rings, was 11237701. I'll send the details off to the BTO and we'll see what turns up. Nice one to get though and wondering if it was just passing through on a westerly then southerly migration or whether it's one of the continentals that overwinter in UK as they are known to come from the east not north as was first suspected. This one though had some traces of fat which suggests it might be a genuine wayward bird on migration.

24 September

Nets up on the heath only and a really good total of Blackcaps, obviously on the move. Fascinating variations on the weights of these. Quite a few were hefty birds and well over 20g but I caught an absolute whopper with a weight of 27.3g. I had to double check it, recalibrate the scales etc to be sure but it was chock full of fat and obviously destined for a long trip south. Hope it makes it!

Very nice to see a Hobby still cruising around and 3 Buzzards soaring together over the heath.