As part of the ongoing monitoring of the local Ring Ouzel population across the Eastern Moors Partnership (EMP) and Stanage, the team of staff & volunteers at RSPB EMP are this year taking a closer look at post-breeding dispersal and feeding patterns across our area. Reports and records of Ring Ouzels to SBSG tend to drop off at this time of year as the bracken reaches maximum height and the excitement of the breeding season wanes. Yet this is a crucial time as birds feed up ahead of migration. Key food resources include Bilberries and, later, Rowan berries. Ecologist Kim Leyland is keen to gather as many sightings as possible to learn more about where and when the birds are feeding to inform future conservation measures. Kim is especially interested in sightings of where this year’s colour-ringed juveniles are feeding but all Ring Ouzel feeding sightings are welcomed. It will be particularly interesting if the birds are frequenting the same spots of Bilberry and Rowan on multiple days and whether the birds are feeding alone or in groups, or in mixed thrush flocks, anytime between July and October. The primary target areas are the Eastern Edges in the first instance: from Stanage, Bamford, Burbage, White Edge ,Barbrook, Big Moor, Millstone Edge, Curbar, Ramsley etc. However all records across the SBSG area are very useful to see if timings vary.
If reporting to the SBSG website please note location (a six or eight digit SK grid reference) and number of birds. In the notes you can add whether adult or juvenile, male or female and description of food source, time of day (very useful) and, if preferred, a W3W location. Both members and non-members can report sightings to the SBSG website. Please upload sightings in a timely manner. Alternatively, you can report the same data to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.