A few weeks one ago of our regular visitors, Robert, sent through an incredible excel spreadsheet detailing the dates and times of 150 colour ringed black-tailed godwits seen at Frampton Marsh. Not only are they records of birds seen here but their whole life histories. He estimates that the birds he's seen account for between 1 in 8 and 1 in 6 of all Icelandic colour ringed marked godwits alive today! Just goes to show how important the Wash is for this particular wader subspecies. As I was extremely interested in this I thought you might be too so asked Rob to write a blog about his experiences and he has duly delivered.
Over to you Rob.....
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When it comes to bird names, waders have some of the most interesting and oldest common names in the world. ‘Dunlin’ meaning ‘black belly’ predates the Roman occupation of Britain. Knot is thought to be Old Norse; the birds may or may not be named after King Canute / Cnut. Godwit is from Old English, meaning ‘Good Creature’, and for many birdwatchers the black-tailed Godwit is a truly great bird to see. They may lack the mournful, beautiful, evocative call of the curlew; the frenzied cute-ness of sanderling as they manically rush along after receding waves; or the sheer spectacle of 40,000 knot in the air at once, but they definitely have something special about them. Large numbers of birds move from Iceland to Frampton from July onwards: the adults arrive first, looking very handsome in their deep, extensive cinnamon breeding plumage. This is later moulted into a more uniform grey and black by October, by which time the peak flock count on the reserve can number over 4000. Peak flocks of over 6000 at Frampton in recent years represent 10% of all Icelandic birds on the planet!
Three subspecies of Black-Tailed Godwit can be found globally; the nominate race ‘limosa’ breeds in small numbers in the UK (around 50 pairs at sites such as the Ouse Washes) but by far the most commonly encountered birds belong to the 60,000 or so birds belonging to the Icelandic subspecies ‘icelandica’. The population in Iceland has benefitted in recent years from conversion of land to grass pasture, causing a subsequent rise in numbers. Intensification of similar habitat in North Central Europe in the strongholds of the nominate race ‘limosa’ has in contrast caused such a marked decline in numbers that black-tailed godwit is one of the few birds to be found in Britain that are assessed as being globally ‘near-threatened’ with extinction.
Black-tailed godwit from East Hide - Robert Pell
Efforts to further understand the movements of Black-Tailed Godwit involve the use of coloured rings placed around the legs in specific locations on the tibia and tarsus: these do not cause any harm to the birds and do not increase the risk of predation. Use of colour rings increased in the 1990s and 2000s with valuable insights being gained into the ecology of black-tailed godwits and other wader species. I have personally seen over 150 individual birds with colour ring combinations in over 200 sightings this summer and autumn, and continue to be amazed by what can be discovered from sighting birds in this way.
Around 30% of birds were ringed as passage and wintering birds on the Wash from 1993 onwards: a number of birds seen at Frampton are now old enough to vote and buy booze! The UK longevity record for black-tailed godwit is currently 23 years and 3 months: a figure I predict will be broken by field sightings of colour-ringed birds in the very near future and possibly at Frampton. Work carried out over the past 50 years by the Wash Wader Ringing Group has established that related bar-tailed godwit live for over 30 years along with other large waders (some Wash oystercatchers are at least 40!): hence there is scope for even one colour ring field sighting to expand the boundaries of our understanding of these birds.
A further 40% of birds were ringed in Iceland itself, with around 15% of sightings being of birds that were ringed as flightless young.
Icelandic breeding grounds of black-tailed godwit, not quite as flat as Frampton - Astrid Kant
Black-tailed godwit chick just after being ringed on Icelandic breeding grounds - Astrid Kant
Sightings of these birds are of particular scientific value as they are of a known age and nesting location.
A further 15% of birds were ringed on the South Coast of England and in Ireland: birds often move considerable distances around the British Isles during the winter. My favourite sighting has to be that of OG/OG (the short hand field recording for Orange over Green - left leg, Orange over Green – right leg) flag: a bird regularly sighted at Cley in previous years after being originally ringed in Portugal. This bird graced the cover of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s magazine and in an article explaining how Cley is the best place to be for Black-Tailed Godwit. Finding that the bird ‘defected’ to Lincolnshire was very satisfying!
How colour rings on a black-tailed godwit appear in the field - Toby Collett
The remaining 15% of birds were ringed in Portugal, France or the Netherlands. ‘International’ sightings are always interesting, especially the French ones that give you a sheet listing the names of your fellow observers!
Despite a wealth of sightings this summer, more are needed now and over the coming years. Colour-ringed black-tailed godwit at Frampton provide a potentially unique opportunity to learn how creation of new optimal habitat on a migration flyway affects wader survival. Our seemingly innocuous readings of colour rings from a quiet corner of Lincolnshire can become the pebbles in an avalanche of understanding how to conserve wader species globally. Given the threats posed by wetland development worldwide this could be the difference between survival and extinction for species such as spoon-billed sandpiper and Nordmann’s greenshank. In this regard every sighting counts, and I would urge everyone to join in with a very purposeful piece of ‘Citizen Science’. Many very bad decisions are sadly made with regards to conservation by Governments worldwide using ‘insufficient data’ as an excuse.
There is an excellent explanation board by Professor Jenny Gill of the University of East Anglia present in the East Hide which tells you how to record the positions of colour rings and report them, any further queries please ask at the Visitor Centre.
Thank you very much Robert and just to give you all an idea of the details we get on individuals our very own Chris Andrews saw the famous OG/OG at the end of September and this is the e-mail he got back...
Dear Chris,
Thank you for reporting this colour-ringed godwit.
OG-OGflag was ringed as an adult male (top line is ringing) and has been recorded since at:
19.02.07 Alhos Vedros (South Tank), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
21.02.07 Baixa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
06.03.07 Hortas East, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.03.07 Samouco V.Pinheirinhos, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
09.04.07 Welney, Ouse Washes, Norfolk, E Eng
16.07.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
09.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
15.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
18.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
19.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.08.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
04.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
19.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
20.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
24.09.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.10.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
08.10.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.10.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.10.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.10.07 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.11.07 Montijo (Eleclerc), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
12.11.07 Montijo (Eleclerc), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
23.11.07 Espinhosa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
24.11.07 Espinhosa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
21.12.07 Lançada East, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
29.12.07 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
30.12.07 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
09.01.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
16.01.08 Lançada East, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
22.01.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
24.01.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
12.02.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
18.02.08 Lançada East, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
20.02.08 Espinhosa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
22.02.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
03.03.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
24.03.08 Berry Fen, Earith, Cambridgeshire, E Eng
16.04.08 Berry Fen, Earith, Cambridgeshire, E Eng
30.04.08 Alftafjordur, Hofn, E Ice
01.05.08 Alftafjordur, Hofn, E Ice
03.08.08 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.08.08 Kelling Water Meadow, Norfolk, E Eng
06.08.08 Kelling Water Meadow, Norfolk, E Eng
14.08.08 Blakeney Harbour, Norfolk, E Eng
29.08.08 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
31.08.08 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.09.08 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
09.09.08 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.11.08 Espinosa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
12.11.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
13.11.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.11.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.11.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
18.11.08 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
04.01.09 Baixa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
11.03.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.03.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.03.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.03.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
15.03.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.06.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.06.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
09.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
07.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
08.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
15.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
18.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
19.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
20.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
21.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
22.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
23.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
24.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
26.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.07.09 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.10.09 Alhos Vedros (2nd left), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.11.09 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
27.11.09 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
27.11.09 Baixa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
21.01.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
05.02.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
11.02.10 Lancada, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
17.02.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
18.02.10 Sarilhos, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
23.02.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
04.03.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
09.03.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.03.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
19.04.10 Oronsay, Colonsay, Argyll, W Sco
19.07.10 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.09.10 Freiston, the Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng.
08.12.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
31.12.10 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
07.01.11 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
21.01.11 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
01.02.11 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.02.11 Alhos Vedros (Tanks), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.02.11 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
24.04.11 Shannon Airport, Shannon Estuary, Clare, W Ire
07.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
08.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
18.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
20.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
22.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
24.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
31.08.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
02.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
04.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
06.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
07.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
08.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
15.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
18.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
19.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
20.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
22.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
23.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
24.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
26.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.09.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.10.11 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.11.11 Corroios, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
11.02.12 Zambujal, Sado Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
11.04.12 Welches Dam (RSPB), Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E Eng
28.06.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.06.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
02.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
04.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
06.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
07.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
09.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
18.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
20.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
21.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
23.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
26.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
31.07.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
02.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
06.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
07.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
08.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
09.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
24.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.08.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.09.12 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
20.02.13 Samouco Murraça, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
12.03.13 Stalhille, Jabbeke, Brugge, W Bel
27.03.13 Fen Drayton, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E Eng
17.04.13 RSPB Reserve, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E Eng
21.04.13 Loch Gilp, Argyll, W Sco
23.06.13 Lingham Lake, Nosterfield Reserve, Yorkshire, NE Eng
24.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
26.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.06.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
02.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
04.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
06.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
07.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
09.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
10.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
11.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
13.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
15.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
17.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
18.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
19.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
21.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
23.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
24.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
25.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
27.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
28.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
29.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
31.07.13 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
05.10.13 Frampton Marsh, the Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng
13.02.14 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
16.02.14 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
18.02.14 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.04.14 Berry Fen, Earith, Cambridgeshire, E Eng
27.06.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
30.06.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
01.07.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.07.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
04.07.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
12.07.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
14.07.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
16.07.14 Cley, Norfolk, E Eng
03.08.14 Stiffkey Fen, Norfolk, E Eng
11.09.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng
20.09.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng
22.09.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng
29.09.14 Freiston Shore, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E Eng
Quite a long life-story!
If you happen to record the time of day and flock size that would be great to know.
Thank you once again!
Best wishes,
José Alves
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder
Very pleased to hear you think so Keith. Please feel free to share with others and if we get a lot of interest then we'll try and do more like it.
Fascinating reading and very informative. Thanks.