Tuesday 16 February 2010

Incredible Knot

On the 28/01/10 I reported a colour ringed Knot seen at St. Mary's Island through BTO.


A response came back today and I quote

"The combination reported was Fw,SL:m,YY (white flag upper left, grey over light green on lower left: metal upper right, yellow over yellow lower right), which is clearly identifiable as a knot that was captured during our banding operations at Alert, Ellesmere Island, Canada - details as follows:
Red Knot
Colour bands: Fw,SL:m,YY (white flag upper left, grey over light green on lower left: metal upper right, yellow over yellow lower right)
Metal band: 1313-59882
Adult male (plumage, sex confirmed by DNA analysis)
Captured: 10 June 2007, Alert, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada 82 30N 62 20W
The bird was caught using rocket nets at the sewage outfall stream near the weather/military station at Alert. It weighed 128g when captured - it had presumably arrived some time in the past week to ten days and had not yet developed a brood patch (which is usually developed a little closer to when they start incubating)".
This was sent by Dr. R.I.Guy Morrison
Research Scientist, Shorebirds.

When you draw a straight line on the map its about 2000 mile from the ringing site to St.Mary's Island.


View Larger Map

6 comments:

Johnnykinson said...

Fascinating stuff Dick. The more you learn about birds the more amazing they are. It's mind boggling.
( i nearly typed mind blogging there)
John

Phil said...

Amazing - maximum respect for that bird - and to you for recording and revealing its journey

Tim Sexton said...

Snap!

Ghost of Stringer said...

FANTASTIC !

kirstallcreatures said...

Wonderful stuff. L

Citybirding said...

I have to admit I find it difficult to grasp how these creatures can travel such distances