Ring Ouzel Update 2007

4 July
End of season roundup:
In the end, the efforts of two pairs resulted in three successful nests at Stanage this year, fledging 10 chicks in total.  The nests were at Green Crack (four chicks but one died on fledging), Cowper Stone (four chicks) and under Green Crack (four chicks but one died in the nest).

This is one nest fewer than last year but with the same number of chicks surviving and one nest more than the previous three years.

Thanks to all visitors for your help and support and to John Atkin (Sheffield Bird Study Group), Bill Gordon and Flo Richardson (PDNPA Wardens) for their tireless monitoring at dawn and dusk every day through the breeding season.

The birds are still around in the bracken beds, fields and rowan trees, feeding up ready for their migration back to southern Spain/north Africa in early October, so please continue to keep your dogs on a lead.  Thank you.

20 June
The Green Crack pair (Spotty) have built a second nest in the bracken beds below the Green Crack area. Four chicks ringed today. The Cowper Stone pair have also built a second nest, in the Cowper Stone area again. There are no access restrictions with either nest as they are away from the main climbing crag.

6 June
Unfortunately, the Cowper Stone nest has also failed at the chick stage, believed to be due to predation.

23 May
Four chicks successfully fledged from Green Crack nest - thanks to all visitors for their co-operation. Nest below The Rim failed - probably disturbed by something as female has some tail feathers missing.

16 May
Green Crack - four chicks ringed.

10 May
Green Crack nest checked – three young just hatched plus one egg. Third pair found nest building behind Cowper Stone.

4 May
Second pair now nest building in gulley below the Rim area, above Overstones Farm (possibly not the same birds as below who may have moved out of the area).

24 April
Second pair moved from the Rim area, now attempting to nest somewhere in the Cowper Stone area.

18 April
Spotty and ringed female with feint gorget nest building in Green Crack – signs up same day, asking people to avoid the area between Right Hand Trinity and Via Dexter. Second pair believed to be nesting near the Rim as well.

5 April
Spotty’s back! (the bigamist male from last season) with a female near Unconquerable area.

26 March
First Ring Ouzel back – in rowan tree on Hook’s Car (Count’s Buttress male from last season?).