Venus Pool - Colour ringed Curlew

Two Curlews have been present and seen regularly on the reserve since the end of July. They were initially stand offish but showing much better now. Their 'close' behaviour suggested that the 'resident' pair were an item but todays events suggest that may not be the case? Today they were joined by a colour ringed bird and I spent an hour or so trying to get any clear letters on the Darvic rings.

Here he is and shall we call him Lu?

He is 'LU' actually and was ringed in July 2018 at a site on the Stiperstones after being released there as a hand reared chick...

Here's the all important left leg yellow ring 'LU'. I spent ages photographing him hoping to reveal letters on the right leg orange ring? I now realise this local scheme uses a blank orange Darvic ring on the right leg. I guess that colour is more eyecatching?

Getting on nicely with the locals...

But what about our friends at RAF Shawbury with yet another helicopter flying over the reserve. Aren't flying birds an aviation risk?

Most of the pool including the Curlews took flight!

Farewell for now...

The only other sightings since being ringed were at Shatterford near Bewdley in April 2021 and more recently (but not formally registered sightings) at Upton Warren.

And as for 'events' this ringed Curlew seems to be hanging around with one of the twosome to the exclusion of the other! We shall see what happens...