Swale Wader Group

 

The Swale Wader Group is an informal group of amateur birdwatchers and ringers (banders) who study the waders and other birdlife of the Swale in North Kent, UK.

The Group has operated ringing sites at a number of locations around the Swale since 1960 and has ringed over 26,000 birds in this time - mainly waders. Regular Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) surveys are carried out in the area to monitor populations of visiting estuarine birds the breeding populations of the local waders and birds of prey are assessed, too.

All the members of the Group are volunteers and the ringing is carried out as part of the national bird ringing scheme organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

The scientific aims and results of our efforts are explained on this website, together with some of the highlights of our work from the last 50 years.

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Opportunities exist for ringers with all permit classes to take part in wader ringing throughout the autumn. Our season normally begins in mid-July and runs through to the end of the year. Anyone interested should contact us by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the contact form.

Ringing sessions

Summer 2025

This summer we have ringed, under Schedule 1 license, young of both Bittern and Little Tern.

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Friday 1st November 2024

A team of eight caught 49 birds:

  • 2 Black-tailed Godwit
  • 1 Bar-tailed Godwit
  • 10 Redshank
  • 1 Grey Plover
  • 4 Knot
  • 29 Dunlin, plus 2 Swedish ringed birds

Friday 4th October 2024

A team of seven caught 58 birds of 10 species in ideal conditions.

  • 3 Curlew
  • 4 Bar-tailed Godwit
  • 7 Black-tailed Godwit
  • 18 Redshank
  • 6 Knot
  • 2 Grey Plover
  • 13 Dunlin
  • 3 Shelduck
  • 1 Shoveler

The Shoveler was only the second caught by Swale Ringing Group; the previous capture was in October 1999.

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