The Cotswold Water Park

On Sunday 19^th November, during survey work for the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), Chris Walker re-sighted one of the colour ringed Chiffchaffs marked by Matt Prior and other members of the Cotswold Water Park Ringing Group (CWRG).

Chiffchaffs have been colour marked across the UK in the past few winters, studying our wintering population in an attempt to clarify, for example, where their breeding grounds are and whether they are faithful to wintering grounds between winter seasons. Further information on the project can be found on the BTO website.

A number of Chiffchaffs were colour marked in the CWP during winter 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, at several sites, including Keynes Country Park (CWP 31) and Waterhay (CWP 68d); these birds generated a number of interesting re-sightings, including a bird ringed on Cleveland Farm (CWP 74) that was re-sighted at Carsington Water, Derbs in the following Spring.

The bird that Chris Walker recently re-sighted is of particular interest: it was originally ringed in CWP 68d at roost on 24^th November 2004; it was ringed as a Chiffchaff of the Scandinavian race Abietinus and this represents its first re-sighting since being ringed.

 (Photograph of the re-sighted Chiffchaff when first rung - courtesy of Matt Prior)

Please keep a look out for these colour ringed birds: all birds will bear 4 rings, of which 3 will be colours and one will be a metal ring (which may appear silver or even white). In contrast to the breeding season, wintering Chiffchaffs can be remarkably bold and the rings easier to read than you might imagine! Good sites to look out for these birds include Keynes Country Park (CWP31 and 32), Shorncote Reed bed (CWP 84/85) and anywhere around the Waterhay; re-sightings have been made over quite a wide area, so please keep your eyes peeled!

Re-sightings can be sent directly to Gareth.harris@waterpark.org or to Matt Prior on matt.prior@tiscali.co.uk.

If you wish to know more about the colour ringing of birds in the Wiltshire area please look at this article in the Wiltshire Ornithological Society website.

Thew Cotswold Water Park Ringing Group is very active in the area and there is a chance that you will see various birds with rings even if not colour ringed.

(Stonechat courtesy of Gareth Harris)