Twite at Clachtoll

Twite with colour rings

Tony Mainwood from the Highland Ringing Group has been ringing twite at Clachtoll since 2009. In April 2010 he started putting colour rings on their legs. If anyone sees a twite with a colour ring please let us know.

Twite have been declining for several years now and very little is known about their movements. In the past twite would winter in large numbers in the turnip fields in Caithness. Unfortunately there is not so much much turnips grown there anymore.  Where do they go now?

By the 15th May Tony has coloured ringed over 300 birds and still going. Tony is using white over green on the right leg and green over metal on the left leg to indicate a bird ringed in Clachtoll in 2010. Andy Summers is feeding the twite throughout the year and birds are caught in a simple trap designed by Tony.

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