Juvenile Siskin

This Sedge Warbler was caught at Foxglove today on the first day of the Constant Effort Scheme (CES) ringing programme. The Swaledale Bird Ringing Group have provided data for this scheme, run by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology), for the past 17 years.

There is ideal habitat for this species at FGC as it breeds in dense vegetation in marshy areas. It is a summer visitor to Britain and will have over wintered in the South of the Sahel.

The number of birds caught today was 229 which is the third highest total for CES day 1 in the 18 years the group has been participating. A major surprise was this recently fledged Siskin just out of a nest which is the first 2010 juvenile to be seen on the reserve. It is the earliest juvenile Siskin ever to have been recorded at Foxglove.