A female Great Spotted Woodpecker was retrapped in Bob Sheppard’s garden at Bourne Wood on 9th February 2012. This bird was ringed on 8th April 2001 and also retrapped in March 2005.
The BTO have confirmed this morning that at 10yr 10 months and 1 day between ringing and recapture, this sets a new British longevity record for Great Spotted Woodpecker, beating the previous record which was set in 1975 by nine days. As this British record also was the European record holder, we now have a new world record holder living in Lincolnshire.
We have also retrapped three geriatric Blue Tits at Bourne this winter at 7year 11months, 7yr 10months, and 7year 0 month after ringing. Although these have a way to go to beat the British record for Blue Tit of 9year 9months, they bring new meaning to the term ‘ancient woodland’.
Alan
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