Scolt Head, Gulls and Terns - 18th June 2026

A return to the breeding colony for the second year of this project working with Natural England. The colony has been closely monitored to ensure that there is no indication of any reason not to ring the birds. As always, numbers were limited by the number of people plus kit that could be accommodated in the two boats used to take everything across to the island.

We had organised a team of six ringers, CL, DKL, PWL, EMS & BIB from year one plus a local C ringer CVG. This year the Natural England contingent also included two staff with C permits so RMC and OLB also ringed birds.

We started by setting up a gazebo as a holding and ringing area and preparing the keeping boxes, and setting out ringing stations for three teams. Meanwhile a corral was set up along the beachside edge of the colony.

Once ready, half the group took up positions to direct the young Sandwich Terns towards the corral with the other half of the team walking along the outside edge of the colony and towards the corral. Many birds peeled off back into the colony but the group that was finally confined within the corral totalled 201 with only 4 too small to take a darvic ring.

Some birds remained in the corral and were brought to the ringing station later 

to limit time spent in the boxes.

Three ringing teams of three, one to ring, one prepping the darvic and a third to scribe.

The second catch for gulls involved hand catching and taking back to the base. There were plenty of people to monitor birds while in the boxes and to take them back to the colony once ringed.

We are already getting a great deal of information from the birds ringed last year.

All ringing activities conducted under appropriate licences. Images by Neil Lawton, Scolt Head warden. Many thanks to all concerned with this project.

Total: 346

Black-headed Gull - 79
Mediterranean Gull - 46 (plus 16 with metal only)

Sandwich Tern - 201 (plus 4 with metal only)

Sculthorpe Moor - 15th June 2026

 It's two weeks since our last mist netting session, partly due to windy conditions but also as we've been busy with Barn Owl boxes.

We worked the beaver enclosure and ended with 21 birds.

Adult Reed Warbler

Totals: 12 (9)

Blackbird - 1
Blue Tit - 1
Chiffchaff - 3
Jay - 1
Marsh Tit - 1
Reed Warbler - 3 (1)
Robin - 1 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 0 (3)
Whitethroat - 1
Willow Warbler - 0 (1)
Wren - 1 (2)

Barn Owls mainly - 12th June 2026

Today was a run out for Barn Owls in the main, with a side of Stone Curlew.

Three more broods, an adult caught leaving a box, then a second check where the farmer had definitely sighted Stone Curlews with a chick.

The boxes held broods of 3 and two fours.

The bulk of our Barn Owls are now done, leaving more time for terns, gulls and Oystercatchers in the coming months. If we're lucky there may even be some Nightjars, but nest finding has been hampered by wet or very hot weather when parties were due to conduct searches.

Age 7 female Barn Owl finishing main moult

At an undisclosed site, this became our second Stone Curlew of the season.

All ringed under the appropriate licences.

Totals: 13

Barn Owl - 12 (1 adult & 11 chicks)
Stone Curlew - 1

Marsh Harriers & Barn Owls - 11th June 2026

Rain was due by late morning but some of these Harriers were getting quite large so we took our chance.

There were 4 in the nest, three being quite well grown with the last to hatch rather lagging behind. All were ringed, but due to the size of the fourth chick it was decided not to tag it.

Handling raptors can be so variable. Red Kites, even adults, will just sat in your lap, and be non-aggressive, an indication of their main hunting strategy of scavenging, whereas Marsh Harriers are very aggressive, very active live prey takers, with one of the chicks giving an example of bill use, as it went for the hand, twisted it bill in a tearing motion opening up a small area of the hand.

Smallest chick

Largest chick

All four were returned to the nest.

Then onto a field barn where there were 5 well grown young owls in a box. Again Barn Owls, are relatively unaggressive, apart from occasionally trying to stick their talons onto to you, Tawny Owls can be the opposite, and adults need to be treated with a bit more caution due to their more aggressive nature. 

All five could be ringed.

The youngest of the first Barn Owl brood.

There had been an option for a second check for nesting waders, but the 

vegetation defeated us as the weather began to close in.

The last stop was to a Barn Owl box in a farm yard. The two chicks weren't of a suitable size for ringing yet and had to be left for another day. An Adult was captured at the box and subsequently ringed. By this time rain had set in, earlier than forecast but at least we'd achieved our main objectives.

Totals: 10

Barn Owl - 6 (1 adult and 5 chicks from another brood)

Marsh Harrier - 4 (Three also wing tagged)

Marsh Harriers - 10th June 2026

A morning with PWL and our restricted Raptor & Owl C permit holder DW, to monitor three potential nests at two sites.

The nests was located with the aid of a drone, best practice when monitoring harrier nests, to minimise disturbance to the reedbed. The nest was not quite where we expected as feeding activity had only been observed from a distance, but there were 2 healthy young of a size suitable for ringing.

The first nest had male and female siblings. The second nest appeared to have failed as there was no sign of the adult birds.

The toe span measurement and tarsus width was taken on each bird to to ascertain 

the bird's sex and ensure the correct sized ring was fitted.

Wing measurements and weight were also taken.

Wing tags were fitted before birds were returned to the nest.

The last nest at a separate site had three larger chicks, two definite males and a third that was probably female according to the measurements taken.

Finally birds are returned to the nest.

We extend our thanks to all land owners that support our work by allowing access to their land. All work undertaken under a Schedule 1 licence.

Total: 5

Marsh Harrier - 5 

Barn Owls - 9th June 2026

A day spent checking Barn Owl boxes on a large Norfolk Estate. Around two thirds of the nest sites were covered leaving another 10 or so for another day, hopefully when we won't be dodging the showers.

We were out before 7:30am and home 11 or so hours later. During that time we ringed 27 youngsters and two adults captured leaving boxes. We also found a deceased bird that had been ringed in 2020.

Apart from the owls, one of the best things about sites on these routes is the wonderful assortment of old barns. A few are shown below.

There are plenty of Hares in the fields.

Don't see so many Hedgehogs.

Totals: 31 (1)

Stock Dove - 2
Barn Owl - 29, adult - 2 (plus 1 recovery of a bird ringed as a nestling 2020) and owlets - 27

Beaulieu Oystercatcher radio tracking project - 1st to 3rd June 2026

 CL, DKL, PWL & GD travelled down to meet members of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust team to learn about a conservation initiative on Oystercatcher chicks. The project will look as alternative methods of nest protection and also study chick foraging areas and predation.

Currently at the preparation stage, Iceni trainer ringers received training for radio tagging of chicks in order to be able to cascade training for Natural England staff next year.

The challenges facing Oystercatcher productivity on the south coast and in North Norfolk differ somewhat, however the experience of MS, ER and their GWCT team in the study and protection of young waders will be invaluable in setting up the initiative in North Norfolk.

Many thanks to all the team for your time and willing support over the three days, and no doubt into the future.

Photo courtesy of P. Littler. Antennae attachment. The device is then 

camouflaged prior to release.

Photo courtesy of P. Littler. Radio trackers ready 

for preparation for fitting.

The habitat at Beauleiu is rather different to Scolt Head.