Norwegian BHGs return north

We're beginning to build up a good picture confirming that many of our wintering birds originate from continential Europe. They migrate west each autumn to take advantage of our relatively mild winters.

In recent years, a number of colour-ringed birds from Norway have been seen in Counties Antrim (see here) and Armagh (see here and here).

The Norwegian ringing centre have a great online system which allows you to log-on and get up to date life histories on any birds you have reported. This system enabled me to check and confirm that both of these birds have been seen back in Norway for another summer.

J4P4, which has spent the past two winters at Lurgan Park, was reported at Oslo in early April and J4T4, which I photographed at Connswater in January 2014 was back in Oslo by mid-March. I wonder if either of these birds will be seen in NI again next winter.

J4T4 at Connswater, Belfast, January 2014