Filey Ringing & Migration Week: 15th–22nd October 2016

Filey Bird Observatory & Group's study area covers a small but perfectly formed (and wonderfully productive) area of the North Yorkshire coast, from where the Obs team have been running an autumn ringing week from their Top Scrub ringing site in the Country Park for some years. For various reasons (including increasing membership and interest from local communities), we've decided to expand this always popular event for 2016 to include a programme of walks, talks and workshops, celebrating different aspects of migration here on the east coast — all of which are open to everyone and all of which are free as a bird....

The week will still very much revolve around the ringing team's sterling efforts at the traditional Country Park site, where the nets will be open from dawn to dusk every day (weather permitting). The team operate from an open-to-all ringing station where our experts are on hand to talk about migration, identification and many other subjects, and we'll have reports, books and merchandise for sale. Birds in the hand are of course very much the stars of the show, with a wide range of species guaranteed (from Short-eared Owl to Yellow-browed Warbler if it's anything like last year), the chance of a classic mid-October fall, and even (say it quietly) a killer rarity.

Yellow-browed Warbler, Filey, North Yorkshire (Photo: Mark Pearson)

New for this year, however, are various events and activities to celebrate the wonder of migration here at the Observatory. We've lots of guided walks for all levels and ages, taking in the Brigg for seabirds and shorebirds, our wetland reserves for waterbirds, and the coastal strip for migrant landbirds; we've identification workshops for beginners and those who'd like to sharpen their skills; and we've a series of evening talks about various subjects relating to migration. Full details are available on the homepage of our website at http://www.fbog.co.uk. Remember it's all free, and everyone is welcome!