Herons

After our last failed attempt at ringing some Grey Heron pulli (due to them all being too small) we left it a further two weeks before going back into the heronry. Yesterday (Sunday 19th April) four of us armed with rings, royal mail bags and noses for strong smells headed in!!



Thanks to the expert climbing by Steve Christmas (my trainer) 11 heron chicks were lowered to the ground to be ringed.


Before we went into the heronry, me and my friend/fellow ringer Craig Brookes decided that we would have a look around the site for nests/chicks etc. I decided to check a small shed in the farm yard where Swallows have bred in recent years. As I went in a Swallow darted over my shoulder and out through the door but I could hear another still in there. I can't describe what happened next, due to it all happening too quick! But somehow I raised my hand and caught a female Swallow!!!!!

Other birds ringed in the week 13th April - 19th.

Swallow - 1
Goldfinch - 3 (Including the 100th Goldfinch to be ringed in the garden since December!)
Starling - 6
Collard Dove - 1 (A fledgling from next doors satellite dish!)
Wood Pigeon - 2 (See earlier post)
Mistle Thrush - 2 (See earlier post)
= 15