Brownstown Head ringing totals
Annual bird-ringing, mainly in autumn, has been underway at Brownstown Head (grid
reference X6298), at the south-east corner of Tramore Bay, since October 1988. Most ringing involves mist-netting at
garden sites, with additional nets along hedgerows or in other areas of scrub. Tape-luring for Storm Petrels has also
been done from the tip of the headland in some years. Small numbers of pulli (chicks) are also ringed.
Totals of new birds ringed are summarized below - in total, about 5500 birds of 59
species to the end of 2008. Coverage and numbers of migrants have varied from year to year, reflected in
totals ringed (maximum 622 birds in 2004). Goldcrests are by far the most common species ringed, partly reflecting the
main period of coverage in September-October. Rarer species ringed include Red-breasted Flycatcher in 2005, Northern
Parula and Pallas's Warbler in 2003, Barred Warbler in 1989, Wryneck in 1992 and Wood Warbler in 2004, along with small numbers
of Tree Pipits, Reed Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats, Yellow-browed Warblers and Firecrests.
Despite the large numbers of passerines ringed at Brownstown, recovery rates
for such species are typically very low, and there have only been one distant and two local ringing recoveries of Brownstown-ringed
birds. A Goldcrest ringed at Brownstown in Oct 2003 was recaptured in Meseyside, NW England the following October.
The other recoveries were a Blue Tit recaptured in Waterford city, 13 km distant, and
a Bullfinch found dead at Kilmacomb, near Belle Lake, 7 km away. Recaptures at Brownstown itself are much more frequent,
and indicate that some migrants may stay off-passage for a week or more. A Sedge Warbler ringed in Belgium was found
dead (killed by a cat) at Brownstown. Unlike passerines, Storm Petrels have provided frequent recoveries,
reflecting targeted ringing efforts at headlands elsewhere in Ireland and Britain. There have been 10 Stormies ringed
at Brownstown and controlled at sites in Cornwall (England), Dyfed (Wales), Orkney (Scotland), Cork, Mayo and Sligo; and 13
birds ringed originally at sites in Cornwall, Humberside (England), Dyfed, the Isle of Man, Strathclyde (Scotland), Cork,
and Helvick Head (Waterford) controlled at Brownstown. A Sparrowhawk mist-netted at Brownstown in October 1992 had been
ringed as a chick near Mooncoin (Co Kilkenny) in June 1992.
Thanks are due to the various landowners on the headland who have provided access
for ringing and birding, and to the ringers and helpers involved over the years.
Last updated: 8 March 2009
