[jimbob]

Good afternoon,

a couple of interesting Wader counts (for me anyway) reported from Titchwell RSPB in Norfolk, England from yesterday: 600 Knot and 950 Bar-tailed Godwit roosting.

Are these birds failed breeders on return passage, successful breeders on route back, 1w non-breeders, or something else?

Possibly due to tides, a site on the east coast of Norfolk (Breydon Water) held very few Waders when I visited two days ago.

Thank-you for any thoughts. I enjoy watching Waders and find their migratory habits fascinating.

Cheers,
Jim.

[Farnboro John]

Its an interesting question. I was on the Hebs at the weekend and there were summer Sanderlings on the beaches that made me wonder the same thing (not to mention the female Greater Sand Plover, though if that's the Dutch one then presumably its still on its way up?)

John

[davercox]

Knot is a high-Arctic breeder so its breeding season can barely have started: surely these birds can't be failed breeders, nor returning successful breeders, yet ? I wonder what plumage these birds were in ?

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by davercox

Knot is a high-Arctic breeder so its breeding season can barely have started: surely these birds can't be failed breeders, nor returning successful breeders, yet ? I wonder what plumage these birds were in ?

That's a fair point. I conjecture now that like seawater temperatures in e.g. the North Sea, which peak in September, the far Northern summer is in fact displaced to mostly after the summer solstice as the cumulative amount of sun heat applied builds to a late summer peak. Consequently far northern breeding wouldn't fail until say end of June and successful return migrants would be quite a bit later?

Nevertheless I think its late for aspirant breeders not to be up there getting on with it?

John

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by davercox

Knot is a high-Arctic breeder so its breeding season can barely have started: surely these birds can't be failed breeders, nor returning successful breeders, yet ? I wonder what plumage these birds were in ?

Thanks for your thoughts both of you. The Knot are in non-breeding plumage, so perhaps 1st Summer birds that won't go to the Arctic this year.
Cheers,
Jim.

[upstarts1979]

The first returning waders are the Green sandpipers. The females leave their 'northern' forests breeding grounds and leave the males to rear the chicks. Small numbers arrive at Upton Warren (Worcs) from the second week of June. They spend several months on site, going through a partial wing moult. Numbers are then augmented by the arrival of males in July and juveniles usually in August. Most have vacated the reserve by mid September. Most years we get double figures and 30+ have been recorded. Its bizarre to think that this weekend on the reserve we had northerly moving Sanderling, being joined by southerly moving green sands.

John

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

The first returning waders are the Green sandpipers. The females leave their 'northern' forests breeding grounds and leave the males to rear the chicks. Small numbers arrive at Upton Warren (Worcs) from the second week of June. They spend several months on site, going through a partial wing moult. Numbers are then augmented by the arrival of males in July and juveniles usually in August. Most have vacated the reserve by mid September. Most years we get double figures and 30+ have been recorded. Its bizarre to think that this weekend on the reserve we had northerly moving Sanderling, being joined by southerly moving green sands.

John

Yes, but the northern forests are less harsh and less far: Sanderling are tundra breeders I think? Up beyond the northerly treeline.

So greenies can start breeding that bit earlier.

Nevertheless I am mightily impressed with the detail of your knowledge of Green Sandpipers. I am content to say Green Sand and leave it at that.

John

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Farnboro John

Yes, but the northern forests are less harsh and less far: Sanderling are tundra breeders I think? Up beyond the northerly treeline.

So greenies can start breeding that bit earlier.


John

Good point John
John