Oystercatcher
| SS77234 | 4 | 30.08.68 | Snettisham | |||
| =FA04125 | R | 04.01.87 | Heacham | |||
| + | 30.09.00 | Caestre, Nord, FRANCE | 50 45’N 02 36’E | 279 KM | SE |
Sadly, the victim of a French shotgun, having reached the age of 32 years 1 month.
| FP39528 | 8 | 02.03.02 | Outer Bund Terrington | |||
| X | 29.04.07 | Hansnes, Troms, NORWAY | 69 58’N 19 38’E | 2151 KM | NNE | |
| FA97242 | 8 | 21.08.01 | Wainfleet | |||
| V | 24.05.08 | Havnnes, Troms, NORWAY | 69 47’N 20 33’E | 2130 KM | NNE |
The northernmost and longest distant recoveries of Oystercatchers notified during the year; the second example having been found tangled in a fishing net, and safely released.
| FP62406 | 8 | 20.08.05 | Wainfleet | |||
| X | 14.07.08 | Hethel near Norwich NORFOLK | 85 KM | SE |
One of the more unusual causes of death; this hapless individual, probably a local inland breeder, was found dead by the test track at Lotus cars. It would be interesting to hear the fate of the Lotus!
| FS29781 | 5 | 28.05.72 | Heacham | |||
| R | 26.09.80 | Holme | ||||
| =FP62253 | R | 23.07.05 | Heacham | |||
| R | 08.03.08 | Heacham | ||||
| X | 18.09.08 | Snettisham | LOCAL |
Found dead 36 years and 2 months after ringing, and just short of the national record of 36 years 8 months. Note, however, that longevity records pertain to the time elapsed between ringing and recovery – the current record holder was approximately 4 months old when ringed, whereas this individual was around 12 months old, so from hatching was actually marginally longer-lived.
| FP98745 | 7 | 08.03.08 | Heacham | |||
| X | 12.08.08 | Vidareidi, Vidoy, FAEROES | 62 21’N 06 32’W | 1130 KM | NNW |
A small percentage of Oystercatchers occurring on the Wash are from the Faeroes breeding population, this individual being the first to be reported from there since 2003.
| FP29287 | 1 | 25.07.01 | Pewit Island, Hamford Water, ESSEX | |||
| R | 03.08.07 | Friskney | 146 KM | NNW | ||
| NLA 5402376 | 1 | 24.06.06 | Wouterswoude, Friesland, NETHERLANDS | |||
| R | 03.08.07 | Friskney | 390 KM | W | ||
| FA29336 | 1 | 08.06.05 | Dewar Burn BORDERS REGION | |||
| R | 31.08.08 | Wainfleet | 364 KM | SE | ||
| FP73350 | 1 | 01.07.05 | Easington HUMBERSIDE | |||
| R | 18.10.08 | Snettisham | 87 KM | SSE | ||
| FP63058 | 1 | 10.06.04 | Dyce Industrial Estate Aberdeen GRAMPIAN REGION | |||
| R | 14.12.08 | Snettisham | 509 KM | SSE |
Seven out of the eight Oystercatcher controls reported back to us during the year were of pullus-ringed birds, from a wide selection of habitats, both coastal and inland – a selection of which are included above.
Knot
| SR46075 | 3 | 10.10.06 | Terrington | |||
| R | 10.12.07 | Banc d’Arguin, MAURITANIA | 19 54’N 16 18’W | 3930 KM | SSW |
The majority of Knot occurring on The Wash are from the islandica race, however, it is known that a small number of Knot of the nominate canutus sometimes occur in eastern England during the autumn en route from northern Russia to their west African wintering grounds. This, only the third British-ringed Knot to be found in Mauritania, is one such example.
| CE54762 | 6 | 28.02.87 | Snettisham | |||
| R | 30.08.08 | Oosterkwelder, Schiermonnikoog,NETHERLANDS | 53 29’N 06 14’E | 393 KM | E |
A more typical islandica recovery; this individual still going strong 21 years 6 months after being ringed..
Sanderling
| NLA H285980 | 3 | 04.12.04 | Snettisham | |||
| R | 18.05.07 | Banc d’Arguin, Baie d-Aouatif, MAURITANIA | 19 52’N 16 18’W | 3930 KM | NNE |
It is known that Sanderling from the NE Greenland population migrate through NW Europe, continuing south to wintering grounds in west Africa. However, this is the first exchange between The Wash and Mauritania, and only the second from there to be found in Britain.
| BT03317 | 4 | 03.08.07 | Snettisham | |||
| V | 13.06.08 | Ain Sebaa, Casablanca, MOROCCO | 33 35’N 07 37’W | 2239 KM | SSW |
A more typical African recovery – this representing the twelfth Wash-ringed Sanderling to Morocco – an individual reported as being found alive ‘in a natural hole’ and released.
Dunlin
| ISR 871666 | 3 | 04.08.00 | Fellsholl, Gardur, Myvatn, Sudur-Thingeyjar, ICELAND | 65 33’N 16 59’W | ||
| R | 03.08.07 | Snettisham | 1714 KM | SE |
Only the seventh Icelandic-ringed Dunlin to be found on The Wash. This individual, probably of the schinzii race which breed in Iceland & SE Greenland, will have been on passage to western Africa when caught on The Wash. Note that, when ringed as a juvenile, it was still in Iceland in early August, whilst as an adult it was already on The Wash when controlled at the same time of the year; adults depart their breeding grounds earlier that their offspring.
| NT74593 | 4 | 30.10.04 | Terrington | |||
| R | 12.07.08 | Sappi, Luvia, Turku-Pori, FINLAND | 61 29’N 21 21’E | 1588 KM | NE |
The only overseas Dunlin recovery reported during the year – this individual will have been of the alpina race, which breed in from northern Fennoscandia westwards into Siberia, and spend the winter in NW Europe.
Black-Tailed Godwit
| ES28246 | 6 | 12.08.98 | Terrington | |||
| R | 19.02.07 | Salinas de Alhos Vedros, Setubal, Estremadura, PORTUGAL | 38 39’N 09 01’W | 1729 KM | SSW |
Colour ringing of Black-Tailed Godwit has demonstrated that those occurring on The Wash are of the islandica race, migrating from Iceland to spend the winter. It is also known that some continue south as far as Spain and Portugal, these joining birds from the nominate limosa race, which breed in western Europe (from The Netherlands eastwards) and generally winter from Iberia southwards.
Bar-Tailed Godwit
| DK57886 | 3 | 21.09.01 | Terrington | |||
| + | 30.11.06 | Ile de Bubaque, Bijagos Archipelago, GUINEA BISSAU | 11 09’N 16 01’W | 4846 KM | SSW |
The second Wash-ringed Bar-tailed Godwit to be found in Guinea Bissau (and only the fifth from the UK); this is from well south within the known wintering areas for this species.
| DEW 6326798 | 6 | 01.04.87 | Bupheverkoog Pellworm, Nordfriesische Inseln, GERMANY | 54 32’N 00 28’E | ||
| R | 14.08.06 | Ken Hill Heacham | 571 KM | WSW |
The ninth German-ringed Bar-tailed Godwit to be found on The Wash, and the only overseas control notified during the year.
| DB66917 | 6M | 22.08.74 | Wolferton | |||
| R | 04.08.08 | Terrington | LOCAL |
Still going strong nearly 34 years after being ringed, when it was already an adult; this bird sets a new British, and European, longevity record for the species.
Curlew
| FA62410 | 4 | 28.09.96 | Holbeach | |||
| XF | 09.05.08 | Tuomipera, Ylivieska, Oulu, FINLAND | 64 08'N 24 44'E | 1890 KM | NE |
The majority of overseas Curlew controls and recoveries involving birds using The Wash come from Finland; this individual was reported as being taken by a Goshawk.
| FA97074 | 4 | 31.08.00 | Terrington | |||
| X | 14.06.08 | Alvkarhed, Viksjofors, Gavleborg, SWEDEN | 61 18’N 15 58’E | 1333 KM | NE |
Only the sixth Wash-ringed Curlew to be recovered in Sweden, although twice as many have been recorded making the reverse journey.
Redshank
| DD15792 | 3 | 12.09.06 | Terrington | |||
| R | 13.07.08 | Sappi, Luvia, Turku-Pori, FINLAND | 61 29’N 21 21’E | 1588 KM | NE |
This is only the second British-ringed Redshank to be found in Finland, and the first recorded interchange between The Wash and anywhere around the Baltic. Redshank breeding in this area are thought to mostly winter in southern Europe or Africa, so this individual is likely to have been on passage when caught at Terrington.
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
| GN72221 | 1 | 21.06.03 | Outer Bund | |||
| X | 20.09.06 | Plage Blanche, Guelmim, MOROCCO | 29 23’N 10 09’W | 2742 KM | SSW | |
| GC16818 | 1 | 25.06.06 | Outer Bund | |||
| X | 31.08.07 | La Llama, Arenal de Penagos, Cantabria, Santander, SPAIN | 43 21’N 03 48’W | 1095 KM | SSW | |
| GC16764 | 1 | 25.06.06 | Outer Bund | |||
| VV | 06.08.08 | Praia de Mira, Beira Litoral, PORTUGAL | 40 27’N 08 48’W | 1537 KM | SSW |
Further illustration of the now established behaviour for immature British-bred Lesser Black-Backed Gulls to generally migrate southwards, with most wintering in Iberia, whilst others move on into northwest Africa; the Moroccan recovery being the first such example from the Outer Bund breeding colony.
Herring Gull
| GC52682 | 1 | 01.07.07 | Outer Bund | |||
| RR | 11.12.08 | Zeedijk, Westkapelle, Zeeland, NETHERLANDS | 51 33’N 03 27’E | 262 KM | SE |
The third overseas recovery of a Herring Gull from the Outer Bund breeding colony, and the second to be reported in The Netherlands.