Marsh Harrier wing tagging - 17th June 2025

 There have been a few disappointments regarding Marsh Harrier this year. A few pairs didn't return to their usual areas and some known nests were predated. It was therefore a relief to tag a brood of three this afternoon. There was a definite male (requiring an F ring) and female (requiring the slightly larger G ring), with a third bird that had a toe span measurement that might have been either male or female. In such cases it is usual to err on the side of caution and fit the larger ring. In this case the weight and wing measurement pointed to it being a female.

Tag fitting of first chick, a definite female.

Processing complete, the chick is ready to be re bagged and wait 

while the other siblings are processed. 

The male weighed 470g compared to the other two at 620g & 670g

The final chick, measured, ringed, tagged and ready for return to the nest.

Total: 3

Marsh Harrier pulli - 3

Resighting in South West France of Ingoldisthorpe Marsh Harrier 49 - 7th October 2023

 A second Ingoldisthorpe summer tagged Marsh Harrier has been seen. After 4S was seen in the Manby, Saltfleetby area of Lincolnshire last month, 49 has been recorded across the Channel in France - Orange wingtag with code 49, October 7, 2023 in the Natural Reserve of Marais d’Orx in the SW France.

Norfolk Rivers Trust, Ingoldisthorpe - 11th June 2023

 A collaboration with the North West Norfolk ringing group enabled us not only to gain experience of a species that we've never had the privilege to ring before, but also to get the birds wing tagged so that it is possible to identify the birds without recording the metal ring code. Marsh Harriers are known to travel widely and we look forward to receiving reports of the wing tagged birds in the future.

The nest was first discovered on April 17th and since that time the Norfolk Rivers Trust, the land owner and work being undertaken at the site has avoided causing disturbance to the nesting Marsh Harriers. Not long after we notified the trust about this nest a second was discovered a short distance away. Observations at a distance have shown this to be a site with a polygamous male bring food to females at both nests. The second nest is much less advanced than this one.

The toe span method was used to sex the nestlings, very important since male and female take F and G rings respectively. We were shown by the ringers who first developed the technique and used the method that was eventually adopted into the ringing scheme as the method to use 

Ringed under schedule 1 licence. Many thanks to NWNRG for their help.

4P, male weight 598g, wing 220mm, toe span 70.1mm - 25 days since hatching

4R receives its wingtag, male weight 605g, wing 197mm, toe span 74.1mm

 - the most downy and the last to hatch 23/24 days since hatching

4S, probable female, weight 701g, wing 231mm, toe span 81mm - the largest

nestling and fitted with a G ring - hatched 27 days ago

4T, male weight 556g, wing 218mm, toe span 69.1mm - 25/26 days since hatching

All nestings tagged and returned to the nest.

Total - 4

Marsh Harrier pulli - 4