If you are interested in becoming a ringer or would like information about the Group, contact us at:

swlancsrg@googlemail.com

Thursday, 17 June 2010

Publications

We are currently in the process of converting some of the groups articles into pdf format to be hosted here on the blog for people to read and download...

Check out the publications box on the right of the blog and click the link!

We have just uploaded an excellent article by Ian Wolfenden on his work nest recording in the Hightown Dunes.

PJF

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Edge Hill University Ringing Demonstration

On Saturday, group members, Dave Fletcher, Brian Hopkins, Pete Fearon and Peter Fearon gave a ringing demonstration to students from Edge Hill University at Mere Sands Wood. Despite the breeze, almost twenty birds were ringed and the students got to see species such as Bullfinch, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting. Participants were also shown around the nets in small groups and shown how the birds are ringed, sexed, aged and measurements taken.

Dave Fletcher shows participants the finer points of ageing Blackbirds

PETER FEARON

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

Barn Owl Breeding Season Summary

Following another spring/summer of changeable and unfavourable weather, we can report that as a group we were able to ring 27 Barn Owl pullis. This year we found a high level of invasion of boxes by Jackdaws, probably a contributing factors to the lower numbers ringed this year. We should note however that there was at least two broods that we were unable to ring this year, that should have boosted the total to over 30.

Two Barn Owl chicks. Photo by Steve Binney
PHOTOS TAKEN UNDER SCHEDULE 1 LICENSE

This winter will provide a valuable opportunity for essential maintenance work to be carried out on boxes and a full survey of breeding sites.

PETER FEARON

Thursday, 12 March 2009

Welcome to the new blog of the South West Lancashire Ringing Group, where you will be able to find news of the group's latest activities and findings.

Formed out of the partnership between Tony Duckels, Pete Fearon and the late Dave Low, the group formed in the late 1960's. The group's activities cover the area from the East Lancs Road to the M6 up to Preston, contained by the Sefton coast and Ribble estuary. The group is best known for it's work with Barn Owls and has operated a nest box scheme for over forty years. From the late 70's to the early 80's, the group operated a ringing program at the docks at Seaforth and ringed large numbers of Common Terns, Kittiwakes, Waders and Gulls. During this period over 400 Little Gulls were ringed by the group, which represents approximately 85% of all Little Gulls ringed in Great Britain. The group has also maintained a long-term study on Skylarks.

Ongoing ringing projects include several Constant Effort Sites, the Barn Owl nest box scheme, the monitoring of Wheatear migration, Swift ringing project and Duck cannon-netting on the Ribble Estuary, as well as general ringing.