Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Its the poorest year for owls thus year due to lack of food, and I have ringed only a hundred of each of Barn Owls and Kestrels. So a big surprise on the Humber Bank this week to find 6 Barn Owl and 4 Kestrel chicks in the same nestbox ...and with uneaten prey items too! 3454
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 21/06/2025All three Peregrine chicks have now fledged at St Wulframs Church, Grantham. 090
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 12/05/2025Checking our Little Owl boxes today and was surprised to find 7 eggs, as it's a very poor breeding year,....then found there were two females in the box (photo shows both with brood patches) Polygyny is very rare in Little Owls. 0142
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 15/04/2025These Raven chicks in south Lincolnshire today were nearly 80 metres up a communications tower ! 080
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 31/03/2025Earliest ever Willow Warbler for me in my Sleaford gardem this morning @lincsbirding.bsky.social 0100
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 10/03/2025Nice change of scenery today in neighbouring Yorkshire... we dont get Red Grouse in Lincolnshire. 040
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 18/01/2025Bit warmer a year ago today in the Gambia, whilst getting these photos of Blue-cheeked and Little Bee-eaters. 020
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 02/01/2025Good start to 2025 with a Water Rail ringed at Marston STW... the 18th of this autumn/winter. 050
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 28/11/2024Just received details of one of our Siskins, ringed at Bourne Wood in April, thst was caught in the Russian Federation just 9 days later. 070
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 22/11/2024The 16th Water Rail ringed at Marston STW this autumn. Only around a hundred are ringed annually in the UK. 070
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 15/11/2024It has been a record autumn for ringing Water Rails (13) and Moorhen (18) at Marston whilst targetting Moorhen for the colour-ringing scheme. Grey Wagtail this morning also. 040
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 30/10/2024I know it's mild, but was not expecting to see our male Peregrine nest "scraping" this afternoon at Grantham. 020
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 29/10/2024Thought I would just play mp3 of Bearded Tit at Marston on the off chance of one passing through! Very rare here, only a couple of records on 30 years. Will buy a lottery ticket for today! 1110
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 22/10/2024The drake Mandarin on the river Slea, in Sleaford, is in excellent plumage now. 021
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 20/10/202434 Years ago today.... Lincolnshire's 3rd ever Olive-backed Pipit caught and ringed at Seacroft Golf Course. 020
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 18/10/2024Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis race) was unexpected at Marston STW this morning. 170
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 11/10/2024Rather smart Stonechat caught and ringed at Marston STW today. 070
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 16/09/2024Nice morning bird ringing at Marston STW. Meadow Pipits starting to move through, 2 Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail ringed among the commoner Sedge and Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs. 0121
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 04/09/2024Two years ago today, this juv. Red-backed Shrike was ringed at Marston STW, Lincolnshire. It was the only one ringed in England in 2022, with two others in the UK (Fair Isle and Shetland). A real surprise find inland. 070
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 31/08/2024First bird ringing session of the autumn at Anderby Creek, Lincs, this morning. First bird ringed was this smart Barred Warbler. Otherwise, it was eerily quiet despite an easterly wind. 0160
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 30/08/2024Female Peregrine at St Wulframs Church, Grantham at 10.00 this morning. 171
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 28/08/202435 Years sgo today, I ringed this Pectoral Sandpiper at Marston STW. It was seen in Herts a few days later and remains the only ringing recovery of this species involving the UK 1150
Alan Ball @alanball101.bsky.social · 25/08/2024Just joined bsky.social so posting a couple of my favourite photos for introduction..... Arabian Green Bee-eater is my avatar as it has my initials "AGB". Recent photo of Peregrine from remote Hik camera at Grantham church that I monitor. 1203
