Spoonbill, Black Tern, two Starts and a Chat, and record counts of Mute Swan and Hobby were the highlights of May and June at Rye Meads.
Lots of legs in the news this period, with Great White Egret, Avocets, both Godwits, Curlew and Spotted Redshank visiting!
A very quiet winter period, with only a site record count of Red Kites and a ‘tristis’ type Chiffchaff particularly notable.
Toby Spall has long been a dedicated nest-finder and pullus-ringer - you may have read his article in the recent issue of BTO News. But he still finds great pleasure in small rewards from this activity, as he explains here.
From Whoopers to Hawfinches, with the spice of more detailed counts of our everyday birds, the early winter period was not without its interest!
Ringing highlights included 10 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, Nightingale and Tree Pipit, and records for Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff and Goldfinch.
Here are some of the more informative bird movements to and from Rye Meads reported in the past year as identified by ringing, covering eight countries and two continents!
What happens when you get up early on a cold December morning to count the dribs and drabs of the bird world, that you don't normally raise the binoculars for? Brian Milligan found out.
Hot Spots in September and October included Spotted Crake and Spotted Flycatcher! A reasonable Autumn period except for Hirundines.
Our Nightingales and Little Ringed Plovers have bred, and some unusual Autumn visitors pass through