Returning Lesser Whitethroat, Top Scrub (George Day)
After lots of effort recently (with bonuses including two Firecrests and a Nuthatch), the FBOG ringing team really excelled themselves today with an extraordinary, perhaps unique, occurrence…. the story starts last May, when two Lesser Whitethroats were ringed in the same session on Top Scrub. Both stayed to breed, and then, incredibly, both were retrapped this morning – in the same net, at the same time! Proof of site fidelity and other factors are one thing, but the chances of both arriving back together – infinitesimal!
Other records today included an interesting northern/Mealy-type Redpoll also trapped in Top Scrub, an Avocet south over the Brigg, Greenshanks at the Dams and East Lea, and a Sedge Warbler (new for the year), a male Mandarin and Common Sandpiper at the latter site.
Yesterday (20th), a male Ring Ouzel was at Hunmanby Gap where a pair of Garganey went north, a female Black Redstart headed north at Reighton Sands, a Jack Snipe was at the Dams, and a Whitethroat, a Greenshank and ten Swallows were at East Lea. Another Whitethroat was a the Tip, while about 15 Whimbrels moved through the area.
Black Redstart, Reighton Sands (Mark Pearson)