The page below was sent out to all RSPB reserves last month.....
LOVE PASSAGE WADERS CHALLENGE
Many of you will be very aware of the role that passage waders play in providing us with a measure of the effectiveness of our wetland management. Carefully managed shallow wetlands that make best use of the available water resource in varying climatic conditions should ideally provide opportunities for feeding birds throughout the year. Close views of feeding waterbirds will enhance the visitor experience. Muddy-edged pools in spring will attract not only passage birds but provide feeding for breeding Lapwings and Redshank. Autumn pools are often under-valued, but can provide a visitor attraction during traditionally quiet periods after the breeding season. So, Graham White had a wizard wheeze and has persuaded me that we should hereby launch the....
Love passage waders challenge - an inter-reserve competition to see who can attract the greatest range of passage wader species over the course of a year. Prizes will be exciting and varied (inland sites v coastal, best visitor spectacle, best overall bird, etc). Prizes will be awarded at the 2012 Wardens' Gathering, with the best overall site being presented with the prestigious Golden Wellie award.
Rules:
1. Waders recorded must be 'feet down' on managed fresh/brackish wetland habitat (a 'scrape' or 'flood') within the reserve boundary.
2. Can be recorded by staff, volunteers or visitors.
3. Species noted each month (ideally peak counts of each species) between September 2011 and August 2012 to be recorded and entered into the spreadsheet.
4. Bonus points will be awarded for a) breeding wader totals, b) visitor spectacle from hides or viewpoints and c) best visitor comment.
5. The judges decisions are final.
Let the competition begin...
Gwyn WilliamsHead of Reserves and Protected Areas
The results are in for last month and some snippets are below.....
Month 1 - September 2011
One month in and 33 sites have entered the challenge, recording at least 11,346 individuals of 32 species of wader. The highlights are as follows:
• A surge of Nearctic migrants was the fall-out from the remnants of Hurricane Katia, with sites recording 13 Pectoral Sandpipers, 5 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers. Loch of Strathbeg noted a remarkable five Pecs, with Minsmere just behind with four.
• A good scattering of Curlew Sandpipers (at least 70) and Little Stints.
• A total of 461 Ruff recorded, with peaks of 175 at the Ouse Washes and 142 at Lincs Wash.
Overall, Titchwell takes an early lead with 24 species, with Minsmere (21) and Conwy (20) just behind. Ouse Fen edges ahead of the other inland counties, with 15 species. Titchwell's counts peaked at 1,907 birds, with 1100 roosting Bar-tailed Godwits. Loch of Strathbeg reached 1,800 (with 1,000 Lapwing), Belfast Harbour 1,700 (with 1,000 Oystercatchers) and Havergate Island 1,400 (with 450 Avocets). Too early in the 'season' for league tables, but they may appear next month. Bonus points* are there to be won, this month they go to:
Scrape of the month: Baron's Haugh. Those tepid upwellings on the edge of Motherwell prove that with good habitat management you can attract waders anywhere. The long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher was a first for the reserve and the Clyde area.
Visitor spectacle: Close views of birds at Saltholme resulted in a series of excellent photographs posted on the Teesmouth Bird Club website and complimentary comments from birders on BirdForum.
*Bonus points may be awarded for good birds, visitor spectacle, good management, wormy-ness, breeding birds, or simply taking the judges out for a curry.
So basically we are involved in what will be quite a competitive reserve battle and need your help.
If you could keep records (peak counts and species) of all the waders on the reserve (including Cowpen Marsh as we are in the process of rewetting it for waders) and send them to me either weekly or monthly that would be excellent.
Obviously we don't want to over do it but any positive comments or photographs posted on the TBC site or BirdForum will further enhance our scores and also raise awareness of wading birds as something to appreciate and admire by all our visitors as much as the birds they see in their gardens.
In the end whoever wins wins but the aim of the competitions is to improve and enhance our habitats and management for these birds and also you the visitor.
If you would like to know any more please get in touch on here, have a chat with me on the reserve or e-mail me at toby.collett@rspb.org.uk
Look forward to hearing from you soon
Toby