Lamsdell Bird Ringing and Wildlife Blog: Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe

Sunday, 25 June 2023

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 25th June 2023

A return to the site to mark the second brood of Marsh Harriers and the four chicks that we'd seen on 11/06 were now just three. However,these three were well advanced in their development with much less down than the pulli in the first nest.

We were joined by ERB and PCD who each ringed and tagged one of the chicks and I, DKL ringed and marked 6I. Thanks again to the guys from North West Norfolk ringing group who came to provide more training on best practice regarding handling and tagging of these rather feisty young birds. It is great, in particular, to have the opportunity to learn the toe span technic for sexing young from the ringers that first introduced the method to the UK.

In the coming months and years we should get reports of at least some of the young harriers marked at this site, providing data on where they travel, breed and longevity. All seven chicks marked at this site have been sired by the same male that has supported both hens to feed the broods. It's an indication of a plentiful food supply when one bird can supply the same as two males in an alternative area.

Female 6I ready to return to the nest.

Photo credit ERB

Thanks also to ERB for the heads up that a nest of Kestrel's from another location were being ringed

before the harriers. CL and I both ringed one each, the first Kestrel pulli that we've ringed. In the past we've only ringed adult birds.

1 of 3 rather downy young. Examination of the emerging tail feathers

appears to indicate that all three are falcons, i.e., female.

Photo credit ERB

Total: 4

Kestrel - 3
Marsh Harrier - 3

About us

Chris and Denise Lamsdell

We have both been birders for about 40 years based in South Bucks near the West London reservoir complexes.

Since September 2021 we have been based in North Norfolk. We have done our bit of twitching in the past, but with other priorities this has become a much reduced activity with a preference for seeing new birds where ever our travels take us.

We both have been ringing since 2005. Our local group was the Runnymede RG while based in Buckinghamshire. Since moving to Norfolk we have started a new group called The Iceni Bird Monitoring Group, aimed at increasing public engagement through colour ringing projects on Black-headed Gull, Turnstone and Lapwing. We ring at several sites including Sculthorpe Moor, Sandringham Estate, Deepdale Farm and also monitor bird populations for the Norfolk Rivers Trust. We do ringing at home and support with foreign projects when opportunities allow. Chris also has an interest in Butterflies and Dragonflies and contains his limited photographic skill to them.