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A bad breeding season, no access to Thames Water land, further Covid restrictions... Ringing totals were low, but where were the bright spots?

Given the restricted activities due to site closures and social distancing, it's not surprising that the ringing total was low; but there were still some highlights.

Highlights included record annual totals for Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Reed Warbler; and equal record for Tawny Owl.

After a challenging year for birds, our ringing totals were the lowest for six years, but we did ring our 141st new species.

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.

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.

After a record year for ringing Chiffchaffs, we await the arrival of wintering birds. Rye Meads is one of the best places in Hertfordshire for wintering Chiffchaffs, but they are not our breeding birds; so where do they come from?

A summary of the more interesting recoveries and controls of the birds of Rye Meads as notified to us during 2016.

Ringing highlights included Pochard, Firecrest, Redstart and a Greenland Wheatear, as well as a rehab Bittern.