Highlights of 2007
There are a little over a thousand Ringers in the UK. To become a licensed Ringer takes a few years of dedication, but it is extremely rewarding, and it is a way for a spare time volunteer to make a significant contribution to the science of ornithology.
- The top five species ringed in 2007 were as follows (in brackets are last year's positions/grand total positions):
- Reed Warbler (2/2)
- Sedge Warbler (3/1)
- Blackcap (6/7)
- Great Tit (5/13)
- Greenfinch (10/3)
- No new species this year, but we clocked up record catches of the following:
- Lapwing, equal best with 1993
- Tawny Owl, thanks to a brood on site
- Cettis Warbler, which is likely to have bred nearby and hopefully will return as a breeding species on site
- Reed Warbler, which has increased signficantly since the introduction of the additional reed cover on the Scrape
- Heron and Eqyptian Goose were also records, but in both cases thanks to excursions off site
- Best Meadow Pipit total for 32 years thanks to a good Autumn passage
- Mixed fortunes for the Wagtails:
- The best Pied Wagtail total since 1982
- The first Yellow Wagtail for six years
- But after a good year last year, the lowest Grey Wagtail total for 16 years
- Best Greenfinch total for 16 years
- Two Bramblings were the first for 8 years, and the first time we caught more than a single bird since 1984
- First Grasshopper Warblers for 7 years
- However, as ever there were disappointments too:
- Blank years for Water Rail, Jack Snipe and Black-headed Gull were the first for 11, 9 and 14 years respectively
- Lowest totals for Teal for 7 years, Woodpigeon for 14 years, Goldcrest for 11 years, and Treecreeper for 16 years