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A group of chough found in north Wales over the weekend - part of a flock of sixty-four. Yes, you read that correctly.......sixty four!
Some chough from north Wales
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A group of chough found in north Wales over the weekend - part of a flock of sixty-four. Yes, you read that correctly.......sixty four!
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Yes, there has been a colour ringing project going on for years. The top left bird is ringed as well.
It's always a little bit disappointing when you get back from a trip like this only to find the bird in your best picture has a load of leg jewelry on! But I think this is a very worthwhile, long-term project which is getting some very useful info about north/mid Wales choughs.
Re: grazing - yes it probably is overgrazed but choughs need very short grassland, apparently, so they can dig for invertebrates.
It's always a little bit disappointing when you get back from a trip like this only to find the bird in your best picture has a load of leg jewelry on! But I think this is a very worthwhile, long-term project which is getting some very useful info about north/mid Wales choughs.
Re: grazing - yes it probably is overgrazed but choughs need very short grassland, apparently, so they can dig for invertebrates.
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Like it, the chough is part of our county emblem in Flintshire
GC
Really!? It must be a long time since there were any chough in Flintshire.........
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- 64! good Heavens! That must have been quite a sight. Thanks for sharing, Jerry
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Apparently they were noted in the chronicles of Henry Bolingbroke's campaign in 1399, so not too long ago
GC
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Actually, John, I think I'd know about a re-introduction project if there was one. I'm told that it has been a very good breeding season for choughs, though; but due to lockdown not for bird ringers......so there are lot of unringed juvenile choughs around at the moment. It's very difficult to distinguish juvs from adults now as the orangey-red juv beak and leg colour is by now more or less the same bright red as the adults.
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You're right,Jeremy. My only experience is with those in SW Cornwall and only because we go there twice a year to the same accomodation near Lizard. I've just looked at their website and having three return in 2001 then efforts were made to protect them. So, not a re-introduction programme like the one for red kites. As the americans say..my bad
What we do
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Thanks for the link, John. It's interesting to find out that Welsh birds are being seen in various parts of England as well. We probably only know that because of the ringing project that was mentioned earlier in the thread!
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This is another picture from the same group of choughs. Both birds have a full collection of colour rings; but those on the bird on the left are hidden beneath its feathers.
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There were quite a few at angel bay just before lockdown ,I was there with Steve Dawes
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After the breeding season they gather together in flocks - 25 is quite common but 64 is unusual. They roost together in favoured locations and the flocks may stay together all winter or split and re-arrange themselves.
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Nice- I saw a pair on Anglesey, I manged a few close ups too
Les
Les