Swale Wader Group

 

A team of seven set eight nets at Harty Pools for a 00:50 high tide. With perfectly still, moonless, conditions and with a thin covering of cloud it was a mild and busy night. There was a steady stream of birds from two hours before high tide for around an hour and a half. A good variety of waders were caught, including 13 Black-tailed Godwit and two Ruff, along with 3 Teal, 9 Shelduck and a Starling.

A total of 71 birds were caught and ringed and there were five retraps:

  • Black-tailed Godwit 13 (all colour-ringed)
  • Bar-tailed Godwit (a retrap)
  • Dunlin 30 (including a Swedish control and two local retraps)
  • Grey Plover 1
  • Knot 1 (a juvenile)
  • Redshank 11 (plus a retrap)
  • Ruff 2 (a male and a female)
  • Shelduck 9 (the most we have ever caught in a single session)
  • Starling 1
  • Teal 3

The retrapped Redshank had been ringed locally in July 2010. One of the Dunlin was ringed on the Swale in October 2005 and at almost 10 years is a good age for the species.

Ringing Sessions