The Ring Ouzel story

The Ring Ouzel is a scarce passage migrant through the area in both Spring and Autumn. This year, in common with much of the UK, there were more sightings throughout the Spring. A male and female were seen regularly together through early May and the female was seen nest building, in the presence of the male on 26th May. 

Ring Ouzel - female

Both birds were seen feeding young on 13th June and thereafter were very visible in the nest area. The male made no attempt to defend the nest but the female was very vocal flying down to chase off any intruder. 


The young birds, four I think, left the nest on about 27th June and both the male and female could be seen taking them food in dense cover until the 30th but could not be located on 1st July but may have only moved a short distance.

A hide was used to take photographs of the birds gathering food, mainly worms whick looked to be plentiful.

Ring Ouzel - male

Female Ring Ouzel on nest

On the nest the female tended to sit facing out with her bill pointed vertically upwards, once the female was sitting on the nest the male disappeared leaving no signs of the birds continued presence in the area.

Ring Ouzel nest on almost vertical hillside under over hanging heather