Recoveries
When birds are found by members of the public or are retrapped by other ringers, then details are sent to the BTO. Many ringers are now submitting data on computer which makes tracing ring numbers quicker and easier. In 2001 10,692 birds ringed in the BTO scheme were recovered.
Magpie:- ET 35321 ringed 24.7.98 at Thornton, Leics. The ring was found inside a Tawny Owl box when it was checked in January 2003. Tawny Owls had used it sucessfuly in 2002. We have always felt that it is worth checking boxes also droppings or pellets from birds of prey. Owls often take, then store prey and I remember finding a whole Fieldfare in an active nest box once. This account just shows what Tawny Owls are capable of handling. It seems likely that it was taken at night from a roost. Small rings have sometimes been found in pellets, evidently from smaller birds swallowed whole!
Herring Gull (wing tagged)
This bird recorded by ringer Andy Smith on the 18th January 2003 was ringed in Germany in March 2001. The schedule of it's subsequent movements (up to and including it's appearance in Leicestershire) are outlined below.
color code metalring date locality coordinates observer/informer notes
w 8V 4238454 06/03/2001 BO-Kornharpen, Deponie 51�29' N, 07^16' E 2nd winter ringed
w 8V  13/03/2001 Deponie H�rth-Knapsack 50�50' N, 06�51' E M.Kuhn
w 8V  16/03/2001 Deponie H�rth-Knapsack 50�50' N, 06�51' E M.Kuhn
w 8V  26/12/2001 Ruhrstausee Kemnade 51�26' N, 07�16' E MG
w 8V  01/01/2002 Ruhrstausee Kemnade 51�26' N, 07�16' E JN, left tag missing
w 8V  03/01/2002 Ruhrstausee Kemnade 51�26' N, 07�16' E H.Weindorf
w 8V HB 25/01/2002 M�lldeponie Bremen 53�08' N, 08�48' E M.Seehausen
w 8V NDS 30/01/2002 Deponie Oldenburg 53�07' N, 06�14' E MG
w 8V NDS 14/02/2002 Hannover, Deponie 52�02' N, 09�43' E K.Thye
w 8V GB 18/01/2003 Thorton Reservoir 52�39' N, 01�18' W A.Smith, D.Wright
Common Tern
SV05284    03.07.2001  Watermead
Waterlogged on beach   06.04.2002  Accra, Ghana close to the equater 277 days later and 5230 km from Watermead
Sand Martin
P129995    25.08.2002  Dishley Pool,
Retraped    01.09.2002  Swadlincote, Derbys

BC2619 ringed Las Minas, San Martin de la Vega, Madrid, Spain 40.14N 3.33W 22.08.01 age 3 (first year)
Retrapped Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station 28.05.02
Retrapped by us Wanlip 21.06.02 303days later and a distance of approx 1396 km from Madrid.
Incredible to think the Common Tern from a nest like this one at Watermead was 'recovered' 5,250 km away on the equator.
Reed Warbler
P129792    29.06.2002  Wanlip
Retraped    09.07.2002  Icklesham, Sussex

P129974    23.08.2002  Wanlip
Retraped    06.09.2002  Icklesham, Sussex

N363589    26.07.2000  Tardebridge, Here & Wor
Retraped    08.06.2002  Wanlip
Chaffinch
P129203    27.11.1999  Charnwood Lodge
Taken by cat    18.04.2001  Redditch,
P104535    02.01.2000  Bridgnorth, Shrops.
Retrapped    07.04.2002  Charnwood Lodge
Sand Martins too cover remarkable distances. 370 have been recovered from Senegal in W.Africa.
Grey Heron
1288448    24.04.1999  Watermead.
Hit wires    07.07.1999  Stratford on Avon
1290009    08.05.1999  Watermead
found dead    07.04.2001  Howth, Co Dublin, Eire
Fieldfare
RH56612  adult Male ringed 12.03.2003  Whetstone Pastures, Cosby
killed by a cat  30.04.2004  Svarstad, Ostfold, NORWAY,   59.32N, 09.56E
Merlin
In November 2004 Chris Jarvis (Severn Trent) found a dead bird of prey with a BTO ring on its leg at the Earl Shilton sewage works. Chris removed the ring, reported it on line and then gave it to me. It was a 'D' ring number DA85046. I didn't see the bird but from the ring size and description I expected  it to be a locally ringed male Sparrowhawk. Imagine my surprise when Chris received the BTO report a couple of days ago and  it turned out to have been a male Merlin ringed as a chick (1 of  5) in County Durham on 4th July 2004. It had travelled 227 km almost due south. In recent years only 6 or so Merlin are reported annually in Leicestershire & Rutland. Many thanks to Chris for the inclusion of this item.
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