Sad diver and owl news

We received news today that the Great Northern Diver we rescued from illegal netting on Carnsew Basin (more here) was found dead last week (54 days after ringing). Found by the RSPB warden for the area on a litter pick, there was no obvious reason why it had died, but sadly it wasn't fresh enough for a post-mortem examination.

There have only been 12 ever ringed in the UK, with one ringed at Selsey Bill, West Sussex, in February 1973 found just 11 days later.

We also heard that one of our breeding Barn Owls was hit by a car in Lostwithiel last week, having to be put to sleep at a local vets. This was the female from the local pair, ringed just last summer, but hopefully it's still early enough in the season for another female to take over the territory...