27 August 2009

Ringer Bob Burridge and his team of helpers managed a 'hat-trick' of Swallow controls over the two days of 21 and 22 August at the South Milton Ley Swallow roost.

Among the controls – birds ringed at other ringing sites – a juvenile Swallow caught on the 22nd has been identified as having been ringed recently at Slapton Bird Observatory – showing how Swallows can change their roost sites.

Over the same period, 125 Swallows were caught at Slapton, but without a single capture of a ringed bird – showing how unusual it was for Bob and his team to find three in their catch.