A week in Suffolk - ringing at Minsmere

Just back from a week away with the family to Suffolk. While there we attended a bird ringing day at Minsmere RSPB, which had us captivated. We arrived at Minsmere hoping to see Bittern but in the end we spent at least 3 of the 4 hours we were there at the ringing. The only slight disappointment was that we missed the ringing of a male Sparrowhawk by just 10 minutes! But as you will see below we more than made up for it later.
  

female Blackbird - one of many ringed during the session 



Lesser Redpoll - after Blue Tit these were the most common species ringed



a rather tired looking Goldcrest - at least half a dozen were ringed

Treecreeper - one of two ringed, this one released by my 12 year old Jamie 



Firecrest! The star of the show and amazing to see so closely 



Jamie is now hooked and wants me to look into getting involved in ringing, obviously something I would be more than happy to look into! Other bird ringed while were were there were coal tit, long tailed tit, blue tit and goldfinch. Many thanks to the Waveney Bird Ringing Group and the volunteers on site that day. 

 



 

Jamie releasing a goldfinch