Over the last two years, many birders visiting RSPB Marshside & WWT Martin Mere reserves have reported the above bird to me. However I've been unable to tie this bird with a ringer or a ringing project.
The bird has two red rings, one on each leg, both rings have A5 in white lettering and a metal ring on the right leg.
If you've ringed this bird, or know anyone who has or have the ringing information - I'd be grateful if you could get in touch - Kane.Brides(AT)wwt.org.ukThanks to Paul Gaulton for the above photos.
Nearly all of my Blackbird nests this year contain some addled eggs and I've yet to find a brood of four (from 19 nests). 
Sadly there was a chick that escaped the pliers tonight - this Tawny Owl chick was trying it's best to hide in a tree, closely being watched by mother. I know where they nested but access was very difficult (in a church spire!)
Anyhow back onto the avian activity. Lots of nests on the go, most with eggs, a few have hatched with one or two nests ready to be laid up. A few of my Blackbird nests have managed to survive the incubating stage but have soon been predated shortly after hatching. There's nothing more disheartening when you grab your ringing gear, and aim for a nest that you know contains ringable pulli - only to see some of the nesting material sticking up from the base of the nest, then placing your hand in to confirm that they've been had by something.
Blackbirds, Song & Mistle Thursh are at various stages at the moment - most with eggs and a small number with young (around 2-3 days old).
Woodpigeon (below) & Collard Dove, a number of nests have young especially the latter species, although some broods have been predated. I've ringed a brood of Woodpigeon (on 18th) that were at the FM (feather medium) stage, another nest has been successful and fledged their young.
Tawny Owl & Barn Owl - Tawny incubating three eggs in a nest box (should be hatching any day now) and a brood have already fledged (2 young). Barn Owl on eggs, which is great news as this is a new site in Greater Manchester, where they've never been recorded breeding before! Blue Tits are laying up now and most Great Tit nests are ready to have eggs laid, one or two of the latter species are still building in the boxes in Atherton Woods.
I'm currently recording two warbler nests, a Chiffchaff that had 4 eggs on a check yesterday and Blackcaps currently building. Chaffinch (above) & Greenfinch - two nests of each all awaiting to complete their clutches. We've not yet got round to heading into the local heronry yet, but hopefully we will in the next week or two. And finally the 'cardboard' family of Robins are doing rather well!
Red Line - Grey Heron ringed in Botany Bay Woods, Greater Manchester on 19/04/2009 as a pullus was found dead (in the snow) on the River Wyre, Thornton on 16/01/2010 - 59km.
Tonight I was watching an adult Robin collecting food and so I decided to follow it back to its nest to see whether I could muster up some pulli to ring. Indeed I followed him back and watched him as he went into feed = bingo 5 pulli to set the ball rolling for the year.
This pair decided to ignore the many open front nest boxes on site, the ivy covered trees and decided to place their brood underneath a piece of cardboard!
Elsewhere I've got lots of nests on the go and have been out checking nest boxes in my local woods tonight. Tawny Owl on 3 eggs (above), Stock Dove (x7) on 2 eggs and tits just about completing their nests.
