Wintering Ring Ouzels.
03rd February 2015
Over the past few weeks a number of sightings of Ring Ouzel have been reported. Four in north Wales, one in Gloucester and now one in the Brecon Beacons. I have never seen a Ring Ouzel in the winter in the UK. They are now usually in the Atlas mountains in Morocco, their normal wintering grounds. There is speculation that some spend the winter in the UK but considering the altitude at which they breed, it would be very inhospitable indeed to winter there; Craig Cerrig Gleisiad in the Brecon Beacons for example. I think that the birds that breed there surely all go south before the weather gets really bad. These recently reported birds must have been staying up north and sticking it out until the present bitter north winds have started to blow.
We have a Ring Ouzel which looks to be wintering near Talybont Reservoir and is associating with a group of wintering thrushes. At a distance the bird appeared to be an adult male but after taking some photographs today, albeit poor quality, I now think it is possibly a female. Males are generally sooty black with little or no brown fringing on their crescent, although some may exhibit this feature. Females are more chocolate brown and although appear black at a distance on closer examination are found to be females. They always have brown fringing on their crescents and the chocolate brown always bleeds through on their head and neck.
These images are being looked at currently by experienced ringers who have handled Ring Ouzels in Morocco in winter, it will be interesting to know the ID criteria for future reference.
Well it was quite surprising to me but this bird appears to be a 3rd Cal Male Ring Ouzel.
This is based on photographs I received from the Ring Ouzel study group via our county recorder. I never realised that the males plumage went so brown, especially the crescent. However, you live and learn and it's a good reference for the future.
Please see Latest Images, Wintering Ring Ouzels.
We have a Ring Ouzel which looks to be wintering near Talybont Reservoir and is associating with a group of wintering thrushes. At a distance the bird appeared to be an adult male but after taking some photographs today, albeit poor quality, I now think it is possibly a female. Males are generally sooty black with little or no brown fringing on their crescent, although some may exhibit this feature. Females are more chocolate brown and although appear black at a distance on closer examination are found to be females. They always have brown fringing on their crescents and the chocolate brown always bleeds through on their head and neck.
These images are being looked at currently by experienced ringers who have handled Ring Ouzels in Morocco in winter, it will be interesting to know the ID criteria for future reference.
Well it was quite surprising to me but this bird appears to be a 3rd Cal Male Ring Ouzel.
This is based on photographs I received from the Ring Ouzel study group via our county recorder. I never realised that the males plumage went so brown, especially the crescent. However, you live and learn and it's a good reference for the future.
Please see Latest Images, Wintering Ring Ouzels.