Oystercatcher
| FV04727 | 8 | 08.09.75 | Friskney | |||
| XF | 06.03.04 | Holkham Bay Norfolk | 38 KM | ESE |
This bird was already an adult when it was ringed 28 years 6 months before being found at Holkham. The Wash longevity record for Oystercatcher stands at 36 years 2 months (see below).
| FA89549 | 8 | 21.07.97 | Holbeach | |||
| X | 05.04.04 | Lindas, Hordaland, NORWAY | 60 44'N 05 10'E | 927 KM | NNE |
Nothing unusual about a Norwegian Oystercatcher recovery, except this one's ring was found beneath a Goshawk nest.
| FP08291 | 8 | 01.08.00 | Friskney | |||
| XF | 20.06.04 | Pyalitsa, Murmansk, RUSSIA | 66 11'N 39 31'E | 2620 KM | ENE |
This is only the eighth Wash-ringed Oystercatcher to be found in Russia, and the first record for five years. Oystercatchers occurring in Britain, being the nominate ostralegus race, are regularly found in Norway (nearly 700 Wash-ringed birds to date) but the numbers involved diminish to the north of the Arctic Circle, and few venture beyond the North Cape of Norway into the coastal regions of the Barents Sea and White Sea. This particular bird unfortunately died having become entangled in fishing nets on the shores of the White Sea.
| SS76382 | 5 | 29.06.68 | Snettisham | |||
| =FA07537 | R | 08.09.83 | Wrangle | |||
| R | 04.09.04 | Wainfleet | 28 KM |
The national longevity record for Oystercatcher, or indeed any wader, returns to being a Wash-ringed bird, the title having been taken away from us by a Welsh ringed bird last year! It was not immediately apparent when this bird was caught that it was a record-breaker, as it had been re-ringed when captured back in 1983, but record-breaker it is; extending the longevity for Oystercatchers to 36 years 2 months.
Golden Plover
| DN77939 | 4 | 24.07.97 | Terrington | |||
| + | 14.12.03 | Sutton Bridge | Local |
Relatively few Golden Plover have been ringed on the Wash, so not surprisingly, recoveries are rare, and this is the first example to set any kind of notable longevity being found, but unfortunately having been shot, 6 years 4 months after ringing. The national record is 12 years 1 month.
Grey Plover
| DR33258 | 5 | 13.07.79 | Terrington | |||
| R | 29.08.04 | Terrington | Local | |||
| DR69026 | 4 | 12.08.03 | Wolferton | |||
| R | 29.08.04 | Terrington | Local |
The national longevity record for Grey Plover of 21 years 2 months had remained
unchallenged since a Wash-ringed bird was recaptured locally back in February
1991, but that all changed at Terrington this year. DR69026 came close,
having been ringed 21 years previously, but in the same catch DR33258 smashed
the longevity record being recaptured 25 years 1 month after originally
being ringed.
Normally a long-standing record would suggest a maximum life expectancy
for the species concerned, but although this record had stood for over ten
years, catching success for Grey Plover prior to 1980 was limited, with
70% of the Wash total having been caught since then, so there is a potential
for the new record to be extended further.
Dunlin
| ESI T035218 | 6 | 22.04.00 | Salinas Medhuona, Sidi Moussa, MOROCCO | 33 00'N 08 50'W | ||
| R | 01.08.03 | Terrington | 2320 KM | NNE |
The 13th Moroccan-ringed Dunlin to be found on the Wash, this bird will have been on northward migration from its West African wintering grounds when originally ringed.
| ESI T033294 | 4 | 30.07.00 | Parque Naturel Marismas del Odiel, Huelva, SPAIN | 37 16’N 06 55’W | ||
| R | 01.08.03 | Terrington | 1816 KM | NNE | ||
| ESI T013291 | 3 | 19.08.98 | Salinas de Puerto Real, Puerto Real, Cadiz, SPAIN | 36 32’N 06 11’W | ||
| R | 16.10.04 | Terrngton | 1878 KM | NNE |
Conversely these two Dunlin from Spain are likely to have been on southward migration when originally ringed. Note the early date that T033294 was already a lot further south than when first caught three years previously.
| NT02798 | 4 | 02.08.96 | Leverton | |||
| R | 28.11.02 | Iwik, MAURITANIA | 19 53'N 16 16'W | 3945 KM | SSW |
Controlled on its wintering ground, this is only the 6th Wash-ringed Dunlin to be found in Mauritania, although ringing expeditions to this area has resulted in 15 records of birds from there having made the reverse journey.
| NT53580 | 3 | 11.09.02 | Terrington | |||
| R | 25.05.04 | Bragar, Isle of Lewis Western Isles | 755 KM | NW |
Perhaps surprisingly, the first Wash-ringed Dunlin to be found in the Western Isles, although there have been 7 from there that have been subsequently controlled on The Wash.
Black-Tailed Godwit
| EP85251 | 4 | 09.09.02 | Holbeach | |||
| X | 25.06.04 | Hjassi, Kjalarnes, Kjosar, ICELAND | 64 13'N 21 51'W | 1783 KM | NW | |
| EP85156 | 5 | 21.07.97 | Terrington | |||
| W | 23.03.98 | Kingston, Suffolk | ||||
| B | 18.06.03 | Langhus Fljot, Skagafjardar, ICELAND | 66 04'N 19 08'W | 1830 KM | NW |
Colour-ringing has shown that the majority of the Black-Tailed Godwit using the Wash originate from the Icelandic breeding grounds; these being the 28th and 29th to be reported from there. The latter, having previously been seen in Suffolk, was caught along with its mate, on the northern coast of central Iceland.
Bar-Tailed Godwit
| DR29418 | 6 | 29.08.76 | Friskney | |||
| R | 21.02.03 | Friskney | LOCAL |
Already an adult when ringed, this bird was controlled, and still going strong, nearly 26 years 6 months later. The Wash, and national, longevity record for the species remains at 30 years 3 months.
| DB16794 | 3 | 02.09.00 | Terrington | |||
| XL | 22.08.04 | near Cocksdorp, Texel, NETHERLANDS | 53 05'N 04 50'E | 305 KM | E |
The only overseas Bar-Tailed Godwit recovery to be reported during 2004; our 10th to be found in the Netherlands.
Curlew
| CT119265 | 1 | 03.07.98 | Jamijarvi, Turku-Pori, FINLAND | 61 50'N 22 36'E | ||
| R | 31.08.02 | Leverton | 1658 KM | SW | ||
| FP08882 | 4 | 09.08.02 | Terrington | |||
| XL | 08.07.07 | Keminmaa, Lappi, FINLAND | 65 49'N 24 32' E | 1981 KM | NE |
Typical Curlew control and recovery details. The control being 35th from Finland to be found on the Wash; a pullus-ringed bird from the breeding strong-hold, and the recovery from the Baltic coast - closer to the northern limit of the species.
Redshank
| DK57764 | 6 | 24.08.01 | Terrington | |||
| X | 28.02.04 | Marquenterre, Somme, FRANCE | 50 20'N 01 41'E | 293 KM | SSE |
Reported as taken by Sparrowhawk.
| DN20546 | 4 | 11.08.87 | Terrington | |||
| R | 29.08.04 | Terrington | Local |
The Wash-ringed Redshank longevity record has remained at 17yr 0m since 1976; This was first achieved by P10010; a bird originally caught in the group's first-ever catch on 18/08/59, and only the 10th bird ringed by the WWRG. However DN20546 has now extended the record, albeit by just 9 days!
| DB44011 | 5 | 05.04.03 | Guardbridge Saltings FIFE Region | |||
| R | 02.09.04 | Terrington | 445 KM | SSE |
The only Redshank ringed elsewhere and controlled on the Wash during 2004; this one being the third from Fife Region.
Turnstone
| SX37256 | 4 | 21.09.01 | Terrington | |||
| R | 16.05.03 | Westness, North Ronaldsay ORKNEY | 751 KM | NNW |
This bird will have been on spring migration towards either Scandinavia or, more likely, Greenland/Canadian breeding grounds, and is only the second Wash-ringed Turnstone to be found on Orkney, coming two years to the day after the first.
| SFH AT202754 | 1 | 14.07.04 | Luoto, Vaasa, FINLAND | 63 48'N 22 36'E | ||
| R | 16.05.04 | Terrington Bund | 1776 KM | SW |
This is the 13th Finnish-ringed Turnstone to be found in Britain, and the 7th for the Wash. It is of particular value in being a pullus-ringed bird.