Last Photos from Gibraltar and Shy Moorhens

Sunday, April 16th 2023

The ringing team are home from Gibraltar.  During the last day a beautiful Turtle Dove was caught.  These birds are summer migrants to the southern areas of the UK,  wintering in West Africa, south of the Sahara.  Unfortunately their migration route sees many of them being shot, impacting on the poppulation which in this country has seen an estimated 98% decrease since 1970.  They pair for life and breed in mature thorny hedgrows. Seeds of cereals and weeds make up the majority of the Turtle Dove’s diet. Chickweed and Fumitory are enjoyed and they will also take spilt grain and seeds of oilseed rape.

Another bird ringed was the Serin.  These birds may be found occaisionally along the south coast.  Their diet includes seeds and small invertebrates.

The ringing team at Foxglove are involved in the BTO project to find out more about Moorhens.  They have been colour ringing them and asking people to report any sightings of colour ringed birds.  Andrew and Jan spotted some Moorhens but they were being shy and hiding their legs!  The first one looks as though he is checking them over through the undergrowth,

whilst the second kept its legs firmly underwater!

Please keep looking for the colour ringed Moorhens and report any sightings in the Field Centre.  Your help is much appreciated.

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