No doubt about where our Sedge Warblers go.....

News of three foreign recoveries of our birds this week and all were juvenile Sedge warblers that had been caught in Tour aux Moutons, Donges in the Loire-Atlantique.

Y206376 was the fastest, covering the 560 km in 7 days 20th July to the 27th July.
Y206370 took 10 days from the 20th to the 30th July.
 and Y206967 took 17days from the 8th August to the 25th August
Although 560 km is the direct distance, several other recoveries of ours suggest that they head south east first, crossing the channel at the narrowest part.

In 2011 we ringed 620 Sedge Warblers.

This weekend we did CES 2 and caught 68 on their return migration to start the year off well.
Other migrants ringed included Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffs, Garden Warblers and a Reed Warbler. Surprisingly few resident birds were caught and still no juveniles.

Richard is still ringing at Long Point Bird Obs in Canada and his latest highlights this week are catching a Bonapartes gull and a Spotted Sandpiper. Some good warbler days too with over 400 birds of 43 species.Dawn and I groaned when we heard about 74 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in one day though - a painful memory of those vicious beaks and claws!