Tricky identification!
Monday, August 15th 2011
Some of the bird ringers put out mist nets on the training area at Marne Barracks on bank of the River Swale this morning. There are usually a few different species there to the ones commonly caught at Foxglove. Several Marsh Tits and Willow Tits were ringed. These are difficult to separate in the field (where voice is the best clue). However, in the hand the subtle differences are easier to spot. The Willow Tit (seen here on the left) has a slightly smaller head and has a pale panel on its wing. The black crown extends further down the nape than on the Marsh Tit (seen here on the right hand side) and the beak of the Willow Tit is completely black (there is some white on the upper mandible of the Marsh Tit)!
Whitethroat seem to have had a good breeding season at Marne. These beautiful warblers have bright rufous wings which contrast with the rest of their plumage. The trainee ringers got to grips (eventually) with ageing these birds! The bird on the left hand side below is an adult and the one on the right hand side is a juvenile. One of the differences is the colour of the iris which is brighter and more colourful in the adult, the juveniles having a greyish iris which looks very dull.
Other species ringed at Marne include Blackcap, Bullfinch and Kingfisher, a total of 86 birds in all. If you would like an opportunity to see birds like these up close there is an event called 'Meet the Birds' tomorrow from 10.30am to 12noon at Foxglove. Please see the events section for details.
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Friday 27th May 2022 | During Reserve Opening Times
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The clues will be out for the duration of the school summer holidays (North Yorkshire dates).
Undergrowth Newsletter
Undergrowth Newsletter Winter 2020/21 Issue 54

Find out what has been going on at the reserve during the lockdown!
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Recent Blog Posts
- More Nature
- Tread Quietly, Tread Gently
- Plenty To See
- No Snow, No Hail
- Tawny Owls and Grey Herons
- More Flowers
- Nature
- Moving Slowly Through Spring
- Nesting Time
- Winter Spring
- Warm Days
- Biscoff Cheesecake, Brownies and Bakewell Tarts!
- A Busy Day for Some
- Volunteers at Work
- Around the Reserve
- A Ringing Day
- Flowers at Last!
- More Spring Photos
- Moths!
- A Special Visit
- Spring Has Sprung!
- Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!
- Almost Spring
- Thank you!
- Ringing Resumes!
- Arrival of Spring
- Strong Support
- Back To Work!
- We Are Open!
- Update
- Temporary Closure
- Large, Little and In Between
- The Weather
- A Wild Worky Day!
- Malik and Corrie
- Forest School Fun
- Winter Work
- Preventing The Spread of Bird Flu
- Thank You and Congratulations!
- Job Jobbed!
- Hazel, a Hedge and more High Vis!
- Moths
- Many Happy Returns!
- Winter Scenes at Foxglove
- Sheer Dedication!
- Back to Work
- Happy New Year!
- All Kinds of Weather
- Last Volunteer Day 2021
- Pillwort
- Volunteers at Work
- Winter Work Continues
- Edward the Elf Returns!
- Sunshine and Blue Skies
- More Clearing Up
- December Winter Worky Day
- Dangerous Trees
- Tidying Up After Storm Arwen
- Storm Damage
- Willow Weaving
- Considerate Contributions
- Storm Arwen
- Look Both Ways
- Never Work With Wildlife
- Traditional Woodland Skills
- Technicolour Nature!
- November Worky Day
- Woodland Work
- All About Fungi
- Look North
- Autumn Views at Foxglove
- Happy Halloween
- Bat Monitoring
- Forest Fun
- Hazel Coppice
- Wildlife Activity Day
- Winter Visitors
- Fungi Walk
- Happy Holidays!
- Bakewells, Banana Cake and Brushcutting!
- A Busy ‘Typical’ Day?
- Wet and Wild!
- Autumn Bird Ringing
- Changing Seasons
- Moths
- Extra Help
- Redwing
- Lively Livestock!
- Meadow Management
- Half Term Plans
- Autumn Worky Day
- QAVS Award on Display
- The Beginnings of Autumn
- Weekly Round Up
- Busy Bees
- Views Around the Reserve
- Colours
- Army Welfare Service
- Ringing at the Crater
- Hints of Autumn
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