ALL870 returns to Druridge

I never fail to be impressed by migration, but there are some birds that really do impress! One such bird is ALL870, a Willow Warbler residing in Druridge Bay, Northumberland. The site is regularly ringed by Janet Fairclough and Iain Robson and this particular bird was originally ringed (as an adult) in May 2004.

It was then caught in the same patch in 2005, 2006, 2008 and now 2009. This isn't the oldest Willow Warbler we know of; this was a 10 year old bird from Hertfordshire. What is amazing though, is where this bird will have been over those years. Weighing in at less than a pound coin, this bird will have crossed the Sahara at least 12 times!

Thanks to Janet for the story (and photo) and more details, and some great nestling Stonechat photos, can be found on the Druridge blog.