A rare bird that was caught and ringed by Surrey was confirmed to be the oldest British bird of its type.
The Dartford warbler, first caught in a net, was fitted with a leg band and released as a juvenile on 22 Jul 2016.
Ornithologists were astonished to discover that it was again caught in the same location on 25 August.
It was trapped as an adult male at this point, making it five-years, one month, and three days old – a new national mark.
The Dartford warbler was captured in a net on 22 July 2016, fitted with a leg rings, and released as a juvenile. (File photo: Dartford warbler at Arne, Dorset, nature reserve).
Ornithologists, who study birds and bird behavior, discovered it was again caught in the exact same spot on 25th August. This time, it was an adult male. It is now five years, one months and three days old, a new national record. File photo of a Dartford Warbler in New Forest, Hampshire
An earlier record was set in 1986, when the Dartford Warbler’s oldest known age was three years, eight and one day.
These birds are very rare in the UK, and can only be found in a handful of heathland areas.
Their numbers plummet in winters of bad weather because they are unable to find enough insects to eat and become starved or frozen to death.
The Purbeck Heaths nature reserve in Dorset opened last year and protects Dartford warblers.
The super nature reserve is the first in the UK and covers an area as large as Blackpool.
It was formed by seven landowners who teamed together to protect wild species: the National Trust, Natural England and RSPB, Forestry England and Rempstone Estate, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
Wildlife has more space to roam, which gives them a better chance of adapting to the climate crisis and thriving.
What is the Dartford Warbler and how can it help you?
This small, dark, long-tailed warbler lives in the UK. It has also suffered from severe winters in the past.
In the 1960s, only a few Dartford warbler pairs existed. Since then, their numbers have steadily increased and are now increasing in range.
It is still considered an Amber List species. It will perch on a gorse stem and sing, but it is more commonly seen as a small flying form bobbing between bushes.
They eat insects and other invertebrates, and are 12-13 cm long.
Dartford warblers are 13-18 cm in wingspan and weigh 9-12 g.
Each year, there is a total of 3,200 breeding pairs.
Their feather colours are black, blue, brown, grey pink/purple, red and white.
They have short, thin beaks and brown or pink legs. Their natural habitat is heathland.
Source: RSPB
Dartford warblers live on heathlands and are rare birds in the UK.