Sunday, 19 December 2010

Bunn's Lane Waxwings - Ringing Details.

After sending in the details of the ringed waxwing that I encountered, via a link from a Birdguides article, I was very pleased to receive some detailed feedback from Raymond Duncan project coordinator. Below is the email he sent me:

Thanks very much indeed for taking the time and trouble to report this colour-ringed waxwing. Fantastic photograph always a welcome bonus. Well done. See ringing details below.

NW5041105/11/10Allenvale Cemetery, Aberdeen3fWB/LC/EF/DR
NW5041118/12/10Bunn's Lane, Mill Hill, North-West London. NW7 2EX3fM Hunt643km SSE

The ringers that day Lindsay, Walter, Derek and Euan will all be very pleased to hear about this bird. This is the first to be reported from the 17 they ringed that day. They caught a Swedish ringed juvenile that day also, only for it to kill itself against a window a week later!

Your sighting is one of several very far south so early compared to previous invasions. We have also had 2 reported together in Southampton yesterday and 2 in Kent this past week.

Although this is partly down to a very large invasion coinciding with only a medium rowan crop (in Aberdeen any way) I think the snow has also indirectly played a significant part in these movements. Snow doesn’t really bother waxwings as their food is always accessible but the masses of thrushes and wood pigeons driven onto the berries has depleted the available favoured berry sources very rapidly up here in Aberdeen, forcing the waxwings to move on quicker than usual.

It is really great to get colour ring sightings like this which all add to the story, which is becoming a particularly interesting and different one to previous invasions. All thanks to observers like yourself for making the time and effort to record and report these things.

Thanks very much again.
Best wishes,
Raymond Duncan
(On behalf of Grampian Ringing Group)

Great to know that the sighting was appreciated & that it adds to knowledge of this charismatic species. He also asked to use my photo for future project updates, bulletins & talks!

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