Ringing Report 2023

The Flamborough Bird Observatory (FBO) ringing group comprises the historical recording area east of the Dykes on Flamborough Headland together with operations at Bempton, mainly at Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve.

The purpose of the ringing group will be to gather data on wild birds, especially migrants, which are found in the FBO area. The secondary purpose will be to assist in the training of people in the techniques of trapping, handling and ringing wild birds. In 2023 we completed the third consecutive year for our constant effort site (CES) in the scrub at the Thornwick Bay Holiday Camp. The CES scheme is a national standardised ringing programme started in 1983 and now including c.150 different locations throughout Britain and Ireland. The scheme provides valuable trend information on abundance of adults and juveniles, productivity and also adult survival rates for 24 species of common songbird.

Totals of new birds caught and ringed on the outer head were 3593 individuals of 56 species which is the third highest ever for the bird observatory, and was achieved despite a paucity of ringers at certain periods of time.

A breakdown of birds ringed by month is given in the table below:

October is by far our busiest month, not least because of the Ringing and Migration Week, when we are active every day with an enhanced team of ringers.

Ringing at Bempton Cliffs RSPB is also carried out on behalf of the Flamborough Bird Observatory, and saw 969 birds of 30 species, augmenting the totals on the outer head.

As usual it was a year of mixed fortunes, the number of acrocephalus warblers was down, mainly a result of the ‘Roost’ not being worked during the year. Blackcap and Chiffchaff numbers were well up on the previous two years, whilst Willow warbler was the second best total this century. The main highlight, however was the highest ever observatory total for Whitethroat and also the continued rise in of the number of Redwing caught and ringed. For the third year in succession we have ringed more Redwing than Blackbird. Redwing also achieved the most spectacular of the ringing recoveries (see below).

For the Constant Effort Site (CES) we completed 9 out of the 12 sessions, and a total of 264 birds were caught with 172 of these newly ringed and 92 re-traps (which provide valuable information on the longevity and site fidelity of adult birds). The percentage of re-traps was significantly down on the previous two years.
For comparison in 2021/2022 we completed 9/10 sessions and caught 352/408 birds of which 169/221 were new and 183/187 re-traps.

Flamborough Bird Observatory would like to thank the landowners on whose property the ringers set their nets; The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Flamborough Head Golf Club and The East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the RSPB Bempton Cliffs. We would also like to thank individuals who gave donations during the ringing and migration week, with which we were able to buy some new equipment.

Flamborough Headland Ringing Totals

Selected 2023 ringing recoveries

During 2023 for all movements in excess of 5km, there were 14 reports of Flamborough and Bempton ringed birds moving to other localities together with 12 findings of birds which had been ringed previously elsewhere. An excellent year involving eight international exchanges from six countries; Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France and Spain.

Barn Owl

Barn Owl are an often reported bird when ringed, however movements reflect their sedentary nature. The previous longest distance for a Flamborough ringed bird to figure in these reports is 25km.

Sparrowhawk

Blackbird

Redwing

By far our best recovery of the year. There have only been a handful of Redwing recovered this far south in Spain, and indeed the BTO ringing scheme has yet to record a movement of Redwing to North Africa.

Lesser Whitethroat

Ringed as an adult, this bird is presumably a local breeder, returning from Africa for its 5th season.

Whitethroat

Migrating south for the winter, on the south coast of the UK by the first week in September.

Blackcap

Goldcrest

Long-tailed Tit

Blue Tit

Local recoveries of two individuals both living into their sixth year.

Starling

The German bird was ringed as a nestling. Its very possible that it spent its first winter in the UK.

Chaffinch

This individual is still going strong into its seventh year.

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Two individuals ringed in exactly the same location in northern France.

Siskin

We have caught very few Siskin over the years, it was exciting to get a distance recovery.

Lesser Redpoll

Key to symbols and terms used: