SUFFOLK BIRDING with BINS

At the beginning of January 2009 Phil Harris and myself, Rebecca Nason visited the flock of Waxwings at Rendesham, at this time we saw 35+ birds present.  Interestingly, included in this flock were two colour-ringed birds and a foreign ringed bird (prob from Norway).  We knew that there was a Waxwing ringing project in Aberbeen and contacted Raymond Duncan who was heading the project that night.  We had a
very positive and informative response from Raymond.

Indeed the two colour ringed birds were from his project - they had been ringed in Aberdeen in November 2008, one on the 11th and one on the 13th.  One of these birds was later sighted in Stockport on the 30th November and then we were the first to report it on the 4th January in Rendlesham.  The other bird was not seen anywhere inbetween Aberdeen and Rendlesham and had actually already been reported as
being in Rendlesham, on the 12th December! (we reported it on 4th Jan)

Phil and I, as keen ringers, decided to try and catch some of the Waxwings at Rendlesham.  Between the 8th - 20th January we caught and ringed 7 birds - (unfortunately not the foreign ringed bird).  There was also a flock of Waxwing reported in Kesgrave.  We managed to catch and ring 4 of these birds on the 26th
January.  During this time we also noted, through bins, at least one of the birds in Kesgrave was one of the birds we had ringed in Rendlesham.

We did not see any colour ringed birds in Kesgrave but still noted the two colour ringed birds at Rendlesham until late January.  Recently Raymond was contacted by a member of the public in Rendlesham to say that they had found a colour ringed Waxwing dead in their garden (from a cat).  This was the bird which had been ringed in Aberdeen and then seen in Stockport - a sad end.  The fate of the other bird is unknown.

I also had a flock of around 50 birds in Woodbridge in early February, on a crab apple tree near the Melton Road , Wilford Bridge Road crossroads.  On looking at my photographs later I saw 2 birds which were birds we had ringed - but I could not say whether these were Rendlesham or Kesgrave birds with the ring views I had.

On the 12th February at Rendlesham, we caught 12 Waxwings.  Of these, two were our own retraps, one ringed at Rendlesham on the 8th Jan and one bird we ringed in Kesgrave on the 26th Jan.  We have now ringed 21 Waxwing in total during 2009.

Any colour-ringed sightings of Waxwing would be greatly appreciated by Raymond.  He can be contacted at:raymond@waxwing.fsnet.co.uk  and is part of the Grampian Ringing Group.

I also have info on the Waxwings locally on my website then click on both Shetland Blog (it is Southern blog also for confusion!) and The bird Ringer blog next to it. . . . .photo's of all birds and dates etc given here. . .

Raymond Duncan(Grampian Ringing Group secretary) GWNW4194513/11/2008

Marriot Hotel, Dyce, Aberdeen3RD/CJ/PB/JL/Sk GWNW4194523/11/2008

Fairview Street, Danestone, Bridge of Don, Abdn Kevin Hepworth GWNW4194512/12/2008

Rendelsham, Suffolk Terry McGeeverResighting. PHOTOGRAPHGWNW4194512/12/2008 

Rendelsham, Suffolk. TM340533 Stephen RuttResightingGWNW4194512/12/2008 

Rendelsham, Suffolk Steve Plume Resighting. PHOTOGRAPHSGWNW4194512/12/2008

Rendelsham, Suffolk. TM337531 Peter KennerleyResightingGWNW4194513/12/2008

Rendelsham, Suffolk Scott MaysonResightingGWNW4194516/12/2008

Acer Rd, Rendelsham, Suffolk Tony BelshamResighting. PHOTOGRAPHSGWNW4194518/12/2008

Acer Rd, Rendelsham, Suffolk Tony Belsham/Jon EvansResighting.PHOTOGRAPHSGWNW4194521/12/2008

Acer Rd, Rendelsham, Suffolk Jon EvansResighting. PHOTOGRAPHSGWNW4194529/12/2008

Acer Rd, Rendelsham, Suffolk Tony BelshamResighting. PHOTOGRAPHSGWNW4194504/01/2009

Rendelsham, Suffolk Rebecca Nason/Phil HarrisResighting. PHOTOGRAPHGWNW4194508/02/2009

Rendelsham, Suffolk Cheryl/James AdamsKilled by cat

Once a month our Volunteers get together to clean the beaches at Landguard.   This normally takes a couple of hours, starting at 09:30, always on a Saturday.  Tea and biscuits provided afterwards in the Obs.  Further information from landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk    If  you wish to help please turn up on any of the dates listed below.  We meet at 09:30 by the gate at the southern end of the Reserve near the Radar Tower MAP

2009 Dates:

17/01      14/02       14/03      18/04      16/05     13/06
11/07      15/08       19/09*    10/10       07/11      05/12     28/12 (Bank holiday Monday)

* This litter pick is timed to coincide with the annual National Beach Clean

Further LBO Events 2009:

Migration Mornings - A guided walk around the reserve looking for grounded migrants plus a visit to the Bird Observatory to see a ringing demonstration (birds and weather permitting).  A small charge of £3 per adult or £5 per couple is made.  Supervised children (aged under 16) are of course most welcome and consequently will not be charged.  To book a place please e.mail landguardbo@yahoo.co.uk or ring 01394 673782 (mornings best).

Members & Friends Events:

Friend's Day:  Sunday September 13th 10:00

Outsite Events:

Ringing Courses for Beginners at Flatford (with FSC/BTO)
Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July & Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September 2009

LBO recoveries we have had in recently.  The first two are megas.

MARSH WARBLER  -  R996375

03.06.2008  ringed  Landguard

23.07.2008  controlled  Lapscheure, West-Vlaanderen, BELGIUM (51.17N 03.20E) - 157km  Pretty sure this is the 1^st British-ringed Marsh Warbler recovered in Belgium.

09.09.2008  ringed   Landguard

09.10.2008  controlled  Zandvoort Duinen, Noord-Holland, NETHERLANDS (52.21N 04.32E) - 225km  As far known this is only the 2^nd British-ringed Grey Wagtail to be recovered in Holland.   The other one was also controlled at Zandvoort(ringed as a pullus in Norfolk).

26.10.2007  ringed   Landguard

06.08.2008  controlled  Hietama, Aanekoski, Vaasa, FINLAND (62.34N 25.34E) - 1867km

28.11.2007  ringed   Landguard

04.11.2008  fresh dead  Terschelling, NETHERLANDS (53.23N 05.20E) - 315km

LESSER REDPOLL  -  V965480

25.09.2008  ringed   Greystoke Forest, Cumbria

21.10.2008  controlled  Landguard - 417km

LESSER REDPOLL

10.10.2007  ringed on 10.10.2007 at Brownstown Head, Waterford, EIRE.

25.10.2008    Controlled Orfordness

November 2008  Controlled Southampton