NORTH CORNWALL BIRD RINGING GROUP
Meet The Team
Peter Roseveare
How long have you been bird ringing? Since 2012
Favourite bird: Willow Tit! After many years of watching and learning about this species, I cannot help loving them. They may look like they have drab plumage but actually when up close they are subtly quite beautiful. However, it’s their behaviour and habitats are the real clincher for me. They are very industrious during the breeding season and bore into rotting wood to create bespoke nest chambers. They encompass large territories, so even in a strong hold they can be surprisingly difficult to pin down and with only 3,000 UK individuals left, it’s now rarer than the Southern White Rhino! So it is about time these little beauties became many more peoples favourites before we lose them from the UK altogether. Favourite bird ringed: That is a tricky one as I enjoy interreacting with many different species even the common ones that I see on a daily basis. However, after a long think, there are two memories that keep topping the charts. The first was at a recent trip to Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland Centre where I was lucky enough to partake in the annual Swan Catch. I ringed a multitude of different wildfowl during the visit but getting to interact and ring a juvenile Bewick Swan was a real treat and great learning experience. The second bird came in the form of a male Golden Oriole at Nanjizal Valley on a quiet, late spring morning! Cornwall has always been renowned for its track record of avian rarities and vagrancy and over the years I have been lucky enough to process my fair share of birds that fall into this category. But a male Golden Oriole is a hard one to beat in the looks department and certainly left me smiling after the brief encounter.
Why do you like to go bird ringing? It’s a hard question to answer as there are so many reasons for me personally! I have had a lifelong passion for birds and have always been an active birdwatcher. It may seem like a self-entitled answer, but one of the main reasons I like to go ringing is to interact closely with each bird. They are undeniably stunning and look even better up close and personal! However, the real draw for me is the data collection and learning opportunities that the ringing scheme creates and contributes too. We can monitor many species so much better through ringing methods and this has turned into a really rewarding aspect for me. Seeing data that you have personally collected used to contribute to national and local knowledge bases and conservation schemes is not only hugely gratifying but has also given my love of birds more purpose.
Emma Turnbull
How long have you been bird ringing?
I started ringing when I was just 14 but being unable to drive couldn't attend sessions as regularly as I'd have liked to. I then moved to Cornwall and picked my ringing back up here in 2020, getting my C permit in June 2023.
Favourite bird:
Call it cliché but I do love the humble Robin and Blackbird. They are the species that most people get to know first, with their wonderful characters and boldness, it's where my passion for birds began.
Favourite bird ringed:
Bird ringing has led me to many different places both in the UK and abroad. Ringing raptors in South Africa was one of the best experiences of my life and getting to ring a wild lanner falcon after having previously worked with them in captivity was a real highlight for me.
Why do you like to go bird ringing?
Well that's simple, I love birds. I always have and always will and getting to handle them and see details I never could through binoculars is fascinating. I'm also very proud of being part of projects which help conserve these amazing species for the future.
Bob Bosisto
How long have you been bird ringing? 2018
Favourite bird: Yellowhammer. It was the first bird I knew as a youngster and they were a big reason as to why I became interested in birds. Their vivid yellow colour and cheery song means they are always a pleasure to see and hear.
Favourite bird ringed: Cuckoo. The life of a Cuckoo has always fascinated me and their intelligence makes them a challenge to catch . Being able to study this red-listed species and to help conserve them for future generations has a massive appeal to me.
Why do you like to go bird ringing? I like to go bird ringing because I enjoy learning about bird populations , conservation and migration in an ever changing natural world. There is no better way to study this than bird ringing
Josh Howells
How long have you been bird ringing? June 2020
Favourite bird: My favourite bird might have to be a Long-eared owl! Having a fascination with the species and longing to see one for such a long time, I was able to see one individual in Portugal very up close on a group of suburban trees coating a sidewalk. A few runners up to this have to be Waxwing, Brambling, Hoopoe lark and Coppersmith barbet
Favorite bird ringed:
My favourite bird I have ringed although there are definitely a few! Might have to be as simple as a Siskin. Having a great site for them in Cornwall, has really allowed a look in to see their numbers fluctuate throughout the year and we have even seen some amazing controls and recaptures through our time at this site. A little runner up would be a royal flycatcher I was able to extract and process whilst away in
Mexico this past summer that when caught will display at you in the hand.
Why do you like to go bird ringing? Not only do I love birds, but the people in North Cornwall Ringing Group are amazing and I look up to them as my mentors!
Emma Scotney
How long have you been bird ringing? 2018
Favourite bird: still deciding!
Favorite bird ringed: My favourite ringed bird is a draw between two species. The first is a grasshopper warbler. When I caught this bird in a pocket of wet woodland I didn't know exactly what species it was, which meant that it was something exciting! The second is the ring ouzel. I had been surveying for ring ouzel that summer in Dartmoor National Park on the tors and valleys using the playback method and we failed to record any ring ouzel. It was hard going with hours of walking in the summer sun and over boggy and hilly terrain. So, when I was ringing later that autumn and caught a ring ouzel in a mist net, this was the first time I had ever seen this bird! This is still the only ring ouzel I've ever seen.
Why do you like to go bird ringing? When I started bird ringing, my bird identification was very limited, unlike most peple who start bird ringing. The birders, ringers and trainers who I have spent time with over the last six years have taught me not only how become a bird ringer but also other skills such as identifying birds by call and song and finding nests. The bird world can sometimes be daunting for young people, but my experience has been fantastic and everyone who I have spent time with has been friendly, supportive and knowledgeable and I continue to learn every time I go out.
Gemma Clark
How long have you been bird ringing?
Since 2022.
Favourite bird: Kingfisher
Favourite bird ringed: Can I have three?! 1. Kingfisher, complete surprise to see in the net! As my favourite bird it was amazing to see up close, as you usually just see a flash of blue and it's gone! 2. Swallow nestlings, it felt amazing putting them back in their nest with rings on, knowing they would soon begin a long journey to Africa and possibly come back next year. 3. Barn owl chicks, because cuteness duh...
Why do you like to go bird ringing? I've always loved birds, watching them, learning about them, and have learnt SO much since I started bird ringing. I've made great friends with like minded people who all share the same enthusiasm to contribute to conservation.
Rebecca
How long have you been bird ringing?
Favourite bird:
Favorite bird ringed:
Why do you like to go bird ringing?
Ellie Smart
How long have you been bird ringing? I first headed out ringing in 2021, but didn't become fully obsessed until 2023!
Favourite bird: Fulmars have to be my favorite seabirds - they can live to an impressive age, will often travel around 600 miles for one feeding trip whilst on the nest, their bodies are amazingly designed for gliding and honestly they're just an absolute joy to watch as they sore around the cliffs! Starlings are my other favorite species, their impressive plumage, murmurations, and ability to mimic have always fascinated me.
Favorite bird ringed: Long-tailed tit - they're just so sweet and gentle!
Why do you like to go bird ringing? For me it's a mixture of learning new things, being part of a supportive like-minded team, and the excitement of getting 're-trapped' birds - whether they are birds you ringed last time you were out, birds from years ago, or occasionally birds that were ringed by another group - by unveiling the history of a bird through ringing provides valuable insights and it feels like such a privilege to learn about a tiny section of that individual's life!