The Cotswold Water Park

The arrival of spring sees the return of many of our breeding species, including the Little Ringed Plover. This species has been studied by the CWP Ringing Group for the past few years through a colour ringing study. One of the birds, colour ringed as a nestling in July 2004 in one of the active quarries, was re-sighted this week, displaying and nest scraping with 3 other Little Ringed Plover. This is the first time this bird has been seen since 2004, so its great to welcome it back to breed in the CWP, actually very close to where it hatched!
 
Please keep an eye open for colour ringed birds whilst you are birding in the area. Of particular interest are:
 
Black Headed Gulls; we have an ongoing study of our breeding gulls in the CWP, with several hudred now colour ringed and some fantastic life histories of birds from records throughout the year. Our birds wear white rings with a black inscription, of four digits (Number, letter, number, number). For further information, please contact the John Wells of the Cotswold Water Park Ringing Group, via the cwp_birdsightings-at-hotmail.co.uk email address.
 
Grey Heron; Richard Hearn has been studying the Grey Herons of the CWP and Severn Vale for several years, with many birds now wing tagged. If you see any wing tagged birds, please let know, recording the presence of tags on each wing, tag colour and the 2 digit inscription. Please also note the presence of any colour rings too. Sightings can be emailed to cwp_birdsightings-at-hotmail.co.uk
 
Little Egret; A number of Little Egrets may also be observed wearing colour rings; please note the colour, position and inscription of rings on any birds in the CWP, and email to cwp_birdsightings-at-hotmail.co.uk.
 
Little Ringed Plover; The CWP Ringing Group have also been colour marking LRPs in the CWP for several years and small numbers of colour ringed birds may be observed by keen-eyed birders! Please record the position of all colours and the metal ring and their colour. Sightings may be sent to us at cwp_birdsightings-at-hotmail.co.uk.
 
In all cases, please accurately all details including dates, time, precise location, circumstances, presence of other birds of the same species nearby, your name and contact details (so we can send you further information on your sightings), as well as species, sex and colour ring details; positions and colours of all rings, including the metal ring, any inscription, (including which direction the ring was read, e.g. up or down). Photographs are welcome provided birds are not disturbed or effected by the activity.  For further information please contact us at cwp_birdsightings-at-hotmail.co.uk. 

With thanks. Gareth Harris.