Oystercatcher
| SS88071 | 3 | 29.08.69 | Dawsmere | |||
| =FA10150 | R | 07.09.86 | Friskney | Local | ||
| XF | 15.05.06 | Olberg, Sola, Rogaland, NORWAY | 58 52'N 05 35'E | 750 KM | NNE |
This Oystercatcher, which was re-ringed when recaptured in 1986, was found on its Norwegian breeding grounds. A first year bird when originally ringed in 1969, this bird was nearing 37 years old when killed by a predatory bird, and sets a new British longevity record for the species.
| BLB L119624 | 1 | 14.06.06 | Grembergen, Oost-Vlaanderen, BELGIUM | 51 03'N 04 07'E | ||
| R | 21.10.06 | Heacham | 324 KM | NW |
Only the second Belgian-ringed Oystercatcher to be found on The Wash, arriving here in its first autumn. The previous record, back in 1995, was also of a nestling-ringed individual from the relatively small population of Belgian Oystercatchers.
| FV39784 | 1 | 23.07.80 | Sheringham, Norfolk | |||
| R | 17.02.07 | Heacham | 51 KM | W |
A Norfolk bred Oystercatcher still going strong after over 26 years.
Grey Plover
| DEH LA004996 | 3 | 26.09.05 | Langenwerder, Rostock, GERMANY | 54 02'N 11 30'E | ||
| R | 12.09.06 | Terrington | 754 KM | W |
Only the second German-ringed Grey Plover to be found on The Wash. Both this, and the previous example back in 1985, were juveniles caught at the same German site, whilst passing through during late September, en route from their natal grounds in northern Russia. Note that, as an adult bird the following year, this example had already reached The Wash by mid-September.
Knot
| SX69168 | 6 | 25.07.05 | Leverton | |||
| X | 12.03.07 | West Terschelling, NETHERLANDS | 53 22'N 05 13'E | 341 LM | E |
The only overseas recovery of a Lincolnshire Wash-ringed Knot notified during the year.
| SX19886 | 3 | 16.10.04 | Terrington | |||
| +colour rings | R | 29.05.07 | Alert, Ellesmere Island, Nanavut, NW Territories CANADA | 82 30'N 62 20'W | 3969 KM | NNW |
It has long been established that the majority of Knot using The Wash in the winter are of the islandica race which breed in northern Greenland and the High Arctic islands of northern Canada. Never-the-less it is still a notable event to get a recovery from Canada; this being our first since 1988. This individual now also bears colour-rings, so increasing the chance that it may be observed again in its further long-distant migrations.
Sanderling
| NT53072 | 5 | 01.08.04 | Snettisham | |||
| R | 18.05.07 | Sandgeri, Gullbringu, ICELAND | 64 03'N 22 42'W | 1821 KM | NW |
Only the third Wash-ringed Sanderling to be found in Iceland. All three examples were recaptured at the same Icelandic site in mid to late May, and will have been en route to breeding grounds in Greenland. This population use The Wash as a refuelling stop before heading on to wintering grounds in Africa.
Dunlin
| NT23104 | 3 | 02.08.00 | Terrington | |||
| R | 24.08.00 | Ilha de Murraceira, Coimbra, Beira Litoral, PORTUGAL | 40 07'N 08 49'W | 1571 KM | SSW |
Being controlled in Portugal just 22 days after its capture on The Wash, the details of this recovery took rather longer than the bird took to make the journey! Most likely of the schinzii race, this population pass through The Wash en route to wintering grounds in western Africa...
| NT84449 | 4 | 10.08.96 | Leverton | |||
| xF | 20.10.06 | Mehdia, Kenitra, MOROCCO | 34 15'N 06 40'W | 2152 KM | SSW |
...as is illustrated by this recovery, being our 21st Dunlin to be found in Morocco.
| NT41386 | 5 | 11.05.05 | Waterfoot, Annan, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY | |||
| R | 03.08.07 | Snettisham | 336 KM | SE | ||
| NT84419 | 4 | 10.08.96 | Leverton | |||
| R | 02.05.07 | Waterfoot, Annan, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY | 312 KM | NW |
This exchange of Dunlin between The Wash and Waterfoot further illustrate a previously well documented tendency for Dunlin to use more western estuaries during spring passage than those used in the autumn.
Black-Tailed Godwit
| EL09251 | 6 | 11.08.05 | Holbeach | |||
| R | 25.09.06 | Vale Frades, Santerem, Estremadura, PORTUGAL | 38 47'N 08 55'W | 1712 KM | SSW |
Both small numbers of the islandica and the majority of the nominate limosa races of Black-Tailed Godwit are known to winter around the Iberia Peninsula – it is not clear which population this bird is from.
| EL09341 | 6 | 12.08.06 | Holbeach | |||
| VV | 21.03.07 | Leighton Moss, near Silverdale, LANCASHIRE | 240 KM | NW |
Colour-ringing of Black-tailed Godwit on the Wash has demonstrated a north-westward shift within the UK during March and April prior to birds returning to their Icelandic breeding grounds; this record being a typical example.
| EP85397 | 4 | 09.09.02 | Holbeach | |||
| X | 01.07.07 | Kollabaer, Fljotshlid, Rangarvalla, ICELAND | 63 44'N 20 04'W | 1680 KM | NW |
And finally a recovery from the Icelandic breeding grounds. This individual was, sadly, found dead, whereas the majority of records from Iceland are sightings of colour-ringed birds.
Curlew
| FA69937 | 4 | 11.08.98 | Wainfleet | |||
| X | 01.05.05 | Vahakangas, Ylivieska, Oulu, FINLAND | 64 03'N 24 40'E | 1856 KM | NE | |
| SFH CT106916 | 3 | 10.07.97 | Seinajoki, Vaasa, FINLAND | 62 49'N 22 42'E | ||
| R | 16.07.06 | Ken Hill, Heacham | 1709 KM | SW | ||
| FA89790 | 4 | 23.07.97 | Terrington | |||
| X | 24.04.07 | Ytterjeppovagen, Uusikaarlepyy, FINLAND | 63 27'N 22 33'E | 1757 KM | NE |
The majority of overseas Curlew movements involving Wash-captured birds are individuals to and from the breeding stronghold in Finland; these being typical examples.
| FP08804 | 6 | 16.02.02 | Terrington | |||
| X | 05.05.06 | Lake Kemskoe, Vytegorskiy District, Vologda, USSR | 61 03'N 37 06'E | 2401 KM | ENE |
Very few Wash Curlew recoveries come from beyond Finland: this being only the Group’s sixth, and the tenth from the UK.
| FV50297 | 4 | 31.08.81 | Terrington | |||
| + | 01.06.04 | Dourduff-en-mer, Plouezoch, Finistere, FRANCE | 48 38'N 03 49'W | 546 KM | SSW |
Only the seventh Wash-ringed Curlew to be recovered in France; sadly as is often the case here, a victim of the shotgun. All the more unfortunate, as at nearly 23 years since ringing, this bird was well on its way to the Wash longevity record for Curlew which stands at 27 years 9 months.
Turnstone
| ISR 756323 | 6 | 28.05.01 | Kopasker, Nupasveit, Nordur-Thingeyjar, ICELAND | 66 18'N 12 27'W | ||
| R | 13.08.06 | Terrington | 1765 KM | SSE |
The first Icelandic-ringed Turnstone to be found on The Wash, although there have been seven Wash-ringed birds found there. This bird will have still been on passage towards its breeding grounds in Greenland or Canada when first caught, and would have recently arrived back on The Wash to moult and spend the winter when controlled.
Redshank
| DB61425 | 4 | 29.08.04 | Terrington | |||
| XF | 19.02.07 | La Rocque, Jersey, CHANNEL ISLES | 433 KM | SSW |
The first record of a Redshank on The Wash moving either to or from the Channel Isles.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
| GN89583 | 1 | 27.06.04 | Outer Bund | |||
| VV | 04.11.06 | Figueira da Foz, Beira Litoral, PORTUGAL | 40 09'N 08 51'W | 1570 KM | SSW | |
| GC33251 | 1 | 25.06.06 | Outer Bund | |||
| VV | 12.08.07 | Prtimao, Algarve, PORTUGAL | 37 08'N 02 16'W | 1874 KM | SSW | |
| GC52028 | 1 | 16.06.07 | Outer Bund | |||
| VV | 06.10.07 | Quarteira, Algarve, PORTUGAL | 37 04'N 08 07'W | 1869 KM | SSW |
Following on from Highlights 2006 come three more Lesser Black-Backed Gulls from the Outer Bund breeding colony found in Portugal; all having had their rings read in the field. These further illustrate the now established behaviour for immature British-bred Lesser Black-Backed Gulls to generally migrate southwards, with most wintering in Iberia.
Herring Gull
| GC16747 | 1 | 26.05.06 | Outer Bund | |||
| VV | 18.05.07 | Helgoland, GERMANY | 54 11'N 07 55'E | 529 KM | ENE |
The second overseas recovery of a Herring Gull from the Outer Bund breeding colony, and the first to Germany.