Ringing

I am a British Trust for Ornithology 'C' ringer, learning to ring birds with the help of trainer Brendan Kavanagh. Brendan is licensed to ring under the British Trust for Ornithology scheme which operates in Britain and Ireland and has permission to use their rings in Bahrain. As I am a 'C' ringer I am allowed to ring on my own unsupervised. I am learned in Bahrain, where Brendan previously lived before returning to Ireland and the ringing group their consists of Abdulla AlKaabi who is an 'A' ringer and Nicole Provan who is a 'C' ringer. I now ring at Sabkhat Al Fasl  in Saudi Arabia under a scheme with the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) and use ther rings. Every season has its own offerings with summer being mainly tern chicks but during the migration period migrants are trapped. Winter is spent mainly ringing at a large freshwater marsh with phragmites reeds where mainly Bluethroats, pipits and warblers are caught.

Ringing Team (Left to right - Jem, Abdulla, Mubarak & Brendan) - Photograph by Howard King
Ringing Team (Left to right - Brendan, Mubarak & Abdulla)
Ringing Team (Left to right - Abdulla, Jem with (Caspian) Reed Warbler, Mubarak) - Photograph by Brendan Kavenaugh
Jem ringing at Al Qahma Mangroves
Ringing Camp (Al Jarrim Island - Bahrain)

Isabelline Wheatear in Spring Trap

 Ringing Totals
Lesser Crested Tern - 1666 ;
Bridled Tern - 382 ; 0
White-cheeked Tern - 21 ; 0
Clamorous Reed Warbler (east) - 96 ; 117
Clamorous Reed Warbler (west) 0 ; 9
European (Caspian) Reed Warbler - 35 ; 87
Kentish Plover - 3 ; 1
House Sparrow - 64 ; 41
Graceful Prinia - 34 ; 50
Common Whitethroat - 3 ; 0
Common Chiffchaff - 41 ; 76
Eastern Orphean Warbler - 1 ; 0
Durian Shrike - 9 ; 8
Turkestan Shrike - 9 ; 8
Menetries's Warbler - 3 ; 3
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 ; 0
Isabelline Wheatear - 7 ; 0
Pied Wheatear - 3 ; 0
Lesser Whitethroat - 3 ; 2
Desert Whitethroat - 5 ; 1
Willow Warbler - 36 ; 20
Eurasian Blackcap - 3 ; 2
Great Grey Shrike (Southern Grey Shrike) - 1 ; 0
Great Grey Shrike (Steppe Grey Shrike) - 1 ; 0
Barn Swallow - 8 ; 8
Water Pipit - 56 ; 6
Red-spotted Bluethroat - 45 ; 52
White-spotted Bluethroat - 1 ; 1
Desert Wheatear - 1 ; 0
White Wagtail - 2 ; 1
Little Stint - 9 ; 0
Common Moorhen - 3 ; 0
Siberian Buff-bellied Pipit - 1 ; 0
Common Snipe - 1 ; 0
Wood Sandpiper - 1 ; 0
Woodchat Shrike - 3 ; 0
Siberian Stonechat - 1 ; 1
Savi's Warbler - 3 ; 15
Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed - feldegg) - 1 ; 0
Yellow Wagtail (flava) - 1 ; 3
Red-throated Pipit - 8 ; 0
Barred Warbler - 2 ; 0
Ortolan Bunting - 3 ; 0
Sedge Warbler - 2 ; 30
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin - 3 ; 0
Common Redstart - 6 ; 2
Great Reed Warbler - 7 ; 28
Whinchat - 1 ; 0
Thrush Nightingale - 1 ; 0
Crested Lark - 1 ; 0
Little Bittern - 5 ; 25
Sand Martin - 1 ; 0
Indian Reef Heron - 3 ; 0
Common Kingfisher - 11 ; 26
Blyth's Reed Warbler - 1 ; 0
Red-backed Shrike - 1 ; 3
White-throated Robin - 1 ; 0
Laughing Dove - 1 ; 2
Upcher's Warbler - 1 ; 0
Eurasian Wryneck - 2 ; 2
Paddyfield Warbler - 1 ; 0
Moustached Warbler - 0 ; 4
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - 0 ; 1
Basra Reed Warbler - 0 ; 1
Grey-headed (Purple) Swamphen - 0 ; 2
Little Tern - 0 ; 1
Tree Pipit - 0 ; 3
African Collared Dove - 0 ; 8
Mangrove Reed Warbler - 0 ; 54
Mangrove White-eye sp - 0 ; 4
Ruppell's Weaver - 0 ; 23
Collared Kingfisher - 0 ; 12
Striated Heron - 0 ; 1
Jack Snipe - 0 : 1
Spanish Sparrow - 0 ; 1
Gambaga Flycatcher - 0 ; 1
Arabian Warbler - 0 ; 4
Spectacled Bulbul - 0 ; 7
Green Bee-eater - 0 ; 2
Palestine Sunbird - 0 ; 2
Little Rock Thrush - 0 ; 4
Abyssinian White-eye - 0 ; 5
Deideric Cuckoo - 0 ; 1
Tristram's Starling - 0 ; 2
Violet-backed Starling - 0 ; 8
Long-billed Pipit - 0 ; 2
African Pipit - 0 ; 2
Arabian Serin - 0 ; 2
Brown Woodland Warbler - 0 ; 1
Yemen Thrush - 0 ; 2
Eurasian Hoopoe - 0 ; 1
Arabian Woodpecker - 0 ; 1
Terek Sandpiper - 0 ; 1
White-throated Kingfisher - 0 ; 1
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - 0 ; 1
White-eared Bulbul - 0 ; 2
Common Rosefinch - 0 ; 1
Common Grasshopper Warbler - 0 ; 1

Total Number of Birds Ringed Bahrain - 2626
Total Number of Birds Ringed Saudi Arabia - 805
Total Birds Ringed - 3441
Total birds not including Tern Chicks - 1293
Total Number of Species Ringed Bahrain - 57
Total Number of species Ringed Saudi Arabia - 64
Total Number of Species Ringed - 95
Arabian Woodpecker
European Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Basra Reed Warbler
Basra Reed Warbler
Common Blackbird
Common Blackbird

Common Rosefinch

Siberian Buff-bellied Pipit - First record for Bahrain
Clamorous Reed Warbler recovery - VR88323 Ringed Qatar
Egyptian Nightjar recovery - Ring number LR07627 Ringed Bahrain

Lesser Black-backed (Baltic) Gull recovery - Colour Ring CSX8, Ringed Finland



Bahrain Ringing Recoveries

Bridled Tern
Ring Number: SR57248
Ringing date: 17-Jul-2008
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island Middle, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 24min N 50deg 29minE)
Age: Pullus
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 17-Sep-2008
Finding Place: Kelve, Thane District, Maharastra, near Mumbai, India (Co-ords: 19deg 2min N 72deg 4minE)
Finding Condition: Bird found on beach. Died four days later in captivity, possibly from heat stroke.
Duration: 62 days
Distance: 2357 km
Direction: 111 deg (ESE)
Finder: Shakuntala Majumdar. Thane Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Bridled Tern
Ring Number: SR58087
Ringing date: 17-Jul-2008
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E)
Age: Pullus
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 22-Jun-2012
Finding Place: Al Jarim Island Middle, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 40min N 50deg 48minE)
Finding Condition: Bird found dead (tideline)
Duration: 1436 days
Distance: 2 km
Direction: 45 deg (NE)
Finder: Dr Brendan Kavanagh

Lesser Crested Tern
Ringing date: 27-Jun-2008
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E)
Age: Pullus
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 31-December-2009
Finding Place: Aranal Beach, Virar, India (Co-ords: 19deg 27min N 72deg 44min E)
Finding Condition: Exhausted & Dying
Duration: 552 days
Distance: 2404 km
Direction: 109 deg (ESE)
Finder: Dr Viabhav Deshmukh

Lesser Crested Tern
Ring Number: DE12827
Ringing date: 19-Jun-2009
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E)
Age: Pullus
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 24-May-2011
Finding Place: Jaffna, Sri Lanka (Co-ords: 9deg 40min N 80deg 0min E)
Finding Condition: Bird found dead
Duration: 704 days
Distance: 3620 km
Direction: 121 deg (ESE)
Finder: Dr Tharaka Prasad

Lesser Crested Tern
Ring Number: DE64753
Ringing date: 22-Jun-2012
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, near Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E)
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 10-Sep-2012
Finding Place: Gholvad, Maharshtra, Maharashtra, India Co-ords: 20deg 5min N 72deg 43min E
Finding Condition: Dead Bird - found on tideline
Duration: 80 days
Distance: 2376 km
Direction: 108deg (ESE)
Finder: Divyesh Desai, 401702, India, e: joamondev@gmail.com

Lesser Crested Tern
Ring Number: DE64793
Ringing date: 22-Jun-2012
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, near Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E) 
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 10-Jan-2013
Finding Place: Maldives Co-ords: 3deg 3min N 72deg 53min E 
Finding Condition: In trap set for other species
Duration: 202 days 
Distance: 3526 km 
Direction: 138deg (SE)
Finder: Uhaid Ismail, Nalahiyaage, Maldives

Lesser Crested Tern
Ring Number: DT02051
Ringing date: 20-Jun-2014
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, near Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E)
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 20-Oct-2014
Finding Place: Maldives Co-ords: 1deg 56min N 73deg 23min E
Finding Condition: In trap set for other species, took fish bait
Duration: 122 days
Distance: 3657 km
Direction: 138deg (SE)
Finder: Mohammed Nazim, Rosemead B Kamadhoo, Maldives 255

Lesser Crested Tern
Ring Number: DE64207
Ringing date: 13-Jul-2012
Ringing Place: Al Jarim Island South, near Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 23min N 50deg 28min E)
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 27-Dec-2012
Finding Place: Barus, Sumatra, Indonesia (Co-ords: 2deg 0min N 98deg 23min E)
Finding Condition: Caught on fishing rod. Released alive.
Duration: 167 days
Distance: 5790 km
Direction: 118deg (ESE)
Finder: Bery Prasetya, Pantai Karang, Indonesia

Clamorous Reed Warbler
Ring Number: VR88323
Ringing date: 22-November-2008
Ringing Place: Al Khor, Qatar, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 25deg 47min N 51deg 18min E)
Age: 1st Year
Ringer: K. Thornton & W. Jones - Rye Bay Ringing Group
Finding date: 18-May-2012
Finding Place: Alba Marsh, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 5min N 50deg 37min E)
Finding Condition: Alive (breeding female)
Duration: 1273 days
Distance: 76 km
Direction: 297deg (WNW)
Finder: Dr Brendan Kavanagh

Pied/White Wagtail
Ring Number: X633740
Ringing date: 13-Nov-2010
Ringing Place: Chicken Farm, Dumistan, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 8min N 50deg 28min E)
Age: 3
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 12-May-2011
Finding Place: Petrilovo, Kostromskoy District, Kostroma O, Russian Federation, (Co-ords: 57deg 50minN 40deg 40min E)
Finding Condition: Bird found dead - not freash
Duration: 180 days
Distance: 3608 km
Direction: 348 deg (NNW)
Finder: RUM Moscow

Saudi Arabia Ringing Recoveries

European Turtle Dove
Ring Number: DE35144
Ringing date: 13-Jul-2012
Ringing Place: Near Al Reem Wildlife Park, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 00min N 50deg 29minE)
Age: Pullus
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 30-Apr-2013
Finding Place: Tabuk, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 28deg 23min N 36deg 33minE)
Finding Condition: Bird dead (shot)
Duration: 291 days
Distance: 1402 km
Direction: 281 deg (WNW)
Finder: Abdulla Ahmed, Bahrain

Isabelline Wheatear
Ring Number: D513406
Ringing date: 23-Sep-2014
Ringing Place: Busaiteen, Muharraq, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 16min N 50deg 36min E)
Age: Adult
Ringer: A. A. Alkaabi, 5639
Finding date: 24-Feb-2017
Finding Place: Al Qasab, Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 25deg 18min N 45deg 31min E)
Finding Condition: Bird found dead, road casualty.
Duration: 885 days
Distance: 520 km
Direction: 259 deg (W)
Finder: Anonymous

European Roller
Ring Number: DN76785
Ringing date: 11-Apr-2008
Ringing Place: Badan Farm, West Manama, Bahrain, Bahrain & Qatar (Co-ords: 26deg 7min N 50deg 27min E)
Age: Adult
Ringer: B Kavanagh, 4736
Finding date: 15-Apr-2014
Finding Place: Al Aflaj area, Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 22deg 3min N 46deg 34min E)
Finding Condition: Bird found dead
Duration: 2195 days
Distance: 599 km
Direction: 221 deg (SW)
Finder: Fahad Al Homaidhi

Clamorous Reed Warbler
Ring Number: B00693
Ringing date: 29-May-2015
Ringing Place: Sabkhat Al Fasl, Jubail, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 27deg 07min N 49deg 51min E)
Age: Adult female (breeding)
Ringer: Jem Babbington
Finding date: 08-September-2015
Finding Place: Jahra Pools Reserve, Kuwait (Co-ords: 29deg 21min N 47deg 41min E)
Finding Condition: Alive (photographed)
Duration: 103 days
Distance: 311 km
Direction: 324deg (NW)
Finder: Mohammed Khorshed

Lesser Black-backed (Baltic) Gull
Ring Number: HT282352
Darvic Ring: White with black lettering CC5P
Ringing date: 1-Jul-2016
Ringing Place: Kuhmoin, Keski-Suomi, Hame, Finland (Co-ords: 61deg 41min N 25deg 28min E) 
Age: Nestling
Ringer: Pekka Makinen, 953
Finding date: 6-Jul-2017
Finding Place: Jizan Corniche, Jizan region, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 16deg 56min N 42deg 32min E) 
Finding Condition: Bird found alive
Duration: 370 days
Distance: 5155 km
Direction: 157 deg (SSE)
Finder: Phil Roberts & Jem Babbington

Lesser Black-backed (Baltic) Gull
Ring Number: HT245167
Darvic Ring: White with black lettering CAWW
Ringing date: 3-Jul-2003
Ringing Place: Punkaharja, Savonlinna, Finland
Age: Nestling
Ringer: Risto Juvaste
Finding date: 26-Nov-2023
Finding Place: Jizan Corniche, Jizan region, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 16.93N, 42.55E) 
Finding Condition: Bird found alive
Duration: 7451 days
Distance: 5087 km
Direction: 161 deg (SSE)
Finder: Jem Babbington & Phil Roberts

Lesser Black-backed (Baltic) Gull
Ring Number: HT277229
Darvic Ring: Yellow with black lettering CSX8
Ringing date: 6-Jul-2009
Ringing Place: Kortka, Finland
Age: Nestling
Ringer: Tatu Hokkanen
Finding date: 26-Nov-2023
Finding Place: Jizan Corniche, Jizan region, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 16.95N, 42.54E) 
Finding Condition: Bird found alive
Duration: 5256 days
Distance: 4971 km
Direction: 158 deg (SSE)
Finder: Jem Babbington & Phil Roberts

Lesser Black-backed (Baltic) Gull
Ring Number: CT178124
Darvic Ring: White with black lettering CK7T
Ringing date: 5-Jul-2014
Ringing Place: SAVONLINNA, ETELÄ-SAVO, MIKKELI (SF84), FINLAND
Age: Nestling
Ringer: Risto Juvaste
Finding date: 26-Nov-2023
Finding Place: Jizan Corniche, Jizan region, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 16.95N, 42.54E) 
Finding Condition: Bird found alive
Duration: 3431 days
Distance: 5080 km
Direction: 158 deg (SSE)
Finder: Jem Babbington & Phil Roberts

Egyptian Nightjar
Ring Number: LR07627
Ringing date: 6-May-2021
Ringing Place: Bahrain
Age: Nestling
Ringer: Abdullah A. Alkaabi, 5639
Finding date: 19-Aug-2022
Finding Place: Sabkhat AlFasl, Jubail, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia (Co-ords: 27deg 07min N 49deg 51min E) 
Finding Condition: Bird found alive and photographed
Duration: 470 days
Distance: 173 km
Direction: 319 deg (NW)
Finder: Jem Babbington