Over a Thousand new Linnets ringed in 2012

Male Linnet in all its glory

The Whoosh site at the Point of Ayre (Wrights Pit North) was set up 2 years ago to try and ring a small number of Twite that winter on the island. Nyger seed is put down to attract the birds. 

We thought we might catch a few Linnets, we had noticed a nice winter flock of between 50>150

2011 we ringed 607 new Linnets here with only 54 retraps

2012 we have ringed 810 Linnets at this site with only 24 retraps  and we are still catching

 54 new Twite Colour ringed so far in 2012

153 new Twite colour ringed at this site since December 2010

Also at the Whoosh site in 2012

411 Meadow Pipits

68 Goldfinch 

40 Lesser Redpoll 

4 Pied Wagtail

7 Redwing

3 Chaffinch

1 Oystercatcher

and 

1 Lapland Bunting

Because the Whoosh site at Wright Pits North has worked so well

We also use one at Ramsey Harbour and down at Smeale

104 Linnets ringed at Smeale in 2012

96 ringed at the trailer park in Ramsey

So far 1011 Linnets have been ringed at Whoosh sites this year.

537 Females

458 Males

16 birds ringed as 3J (still in Juvenile plumage)

663 of these birds were born this year 

The Whoosh site at Wright Pits North has been fantastic, the site is also home to a small nesting colony of Herring, Common and Lesser black Backed Gull and a great place to ring Wheatear on migration. A big thanks to the Department of Infrastructure (waste operations unit) for giving us access to the site and taking a great interest in what we do.