Reedbed Ringing and Wonderful Warblers!

Sunday, August 5th 2018

The Swaledale Bird Ringing Group from Foxglove is very privileged to be able to ring on a stunning quarry site called Bellflask. Gravel lakes with extensive reedbeds provide a fantastic habitat for an enormous variety of wildlife. The site was alive with weird and wonderful waterfowl calls today as 11 mist nets were placed in net rides through the reeds. The morning was a productive one with some beautiful birds turning up in the nets. Three juvenile Kingfishers were ringed. 

A special overlapping ring is fitted to these birds as there can be a variation in the width of the tarsus. So unlike most species one size does not fit all and the rings are 'tailor made' for each individual.  The same ring is used for Kingfishers and Swifts both of whom have very short legs!

Bellflask is particularly important for the species of migrant warblers that breed there including this juvenile Sedge Warbler which was the first one caught there this year.

Reed Warblers are naturally in the greatest numbers as much of the site consists of phragmites. Judging by the number caught this morning (36 in total) they have had a successful breeding season. These birds are summer visitors to the UK and will soon be starting their incredible migration to Africa where they spend the winter months.

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