Ringing then birding at Tophill Low

This mornings ringing session was highly successful with 57 birds. These included 9 Blue tit pulli, 21 Long-tailed tits and (best of all) a Reed warbler control. The Reed warbler had a Belgian ring on as the ring said Brussels on it. This meant the bird was ringed outside the UK, presumably in Belgium or Africa, but we will for know for certain when the BTO get back to us. Whilst ringing we heard a Cuckoo frequently and we saw a Peregrine and a Little Egret (both flew south). I also found a Wren nest and it will be good to monitor the progress of this little bird.
Below are some pictures from ringing, then below that is the second part of the post.

Controlled Reed warbler

Belgian ring

Lesser whitethroat

Wren nest

After ringing we went to South Marsh East. The marsh hosted some good waders from the west hide- 1 Green sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 4 Little-ringed plover, 2 Ringed plover, 1 Oystercatcher and lots of Lapwing. There was also a whole host of other birds from the west hide including 2 Shelduck with many chicks and 2 Common terns. The Shelducks hated the Black-headed gulls approaching their chicks and aggressively chased the gulls away, to the point where one gull was bleeding from the wing! We then went to the East hide. There we got amazing views of the female Red-crested Pochard with 2 young, unfortunately we did not see the male. A Kingfisher briefly made an appearance and we heard the Cetti's warbler briefly. A Yellow wagtail on the access road flew away from the car as we left was the last notable bird of the morning (even though we saw two on the way in). Below are some pictures that I took.

Red-crested pochard

Green sandpiper

Ruff

Shelduck and Black-headed gull (with bleeding wing)

Black-headed gull and Common tern

Red-crested pochard 

Red-crested pochard