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1

CONTENTS

Contents. Page 1

Introduction. 2

Group Projects 3-5

Review of the year 6-8

Monthly Totals 1996. 9-11

Graphs Annual Totals and Species ringed 1990-1996. 12

Annual Totals 1990-1996. 13-16

Graphs Annual Totals of eight species of warblers 1990-1996. 17

Site Reports. 18-22

Summary of site Totals and key to site codes. 23

Site Totals 1996 24-25

Ringing at Holme Bird Observatory 1996 by Mike Reed. 26-27

Nest Records 1996 by Trevor Girling. 28-29

Ringing Recoveries and Controls. 30-37

Wing lengths and weights of Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe caught on the

north west Norfolk coast in spring, an analysis to determine the incidence

and timing of the leucorhoa race. By John Middleton.

38-48

Territoriality and the breeding biology of Ringed Plovers Charadrius

hiaticula at Snettisham. By Durwyn Liley.

49-60

North West Norfolk RG Membership and Acknowledgements. 61

North West Norfolk RG Constitution. 62-63

This report was prepared and produced by: John Middleton.

8 Back Lane

Burnham Market

Norfolk PE31 8EY

Tel: 01328 - 730183

Cover photograph kindly supplied by J.R.Webb.

Photocopying courtesy of A.C.R. Heat Transfer Ltd., King's Lynn.

Published by the North West Norfolk Ringing Group © March 1996.

2

INTRODUCTION

THIS REPORT for 1996 is the fifth that has been produced by the North West Norfolk Ringing

Group now in its seventh year. It is provided to a wide range of people, from fellow ringers to

landowners, farmers and various conservation bodies too numerous to mention individually

here.

Data gathering is an integral aspect of the group’s activities and biometrics, and details of

moult and plumage characteristics are recorded. The Group's data is held on computer using

the B Ring software programme developed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and

currently extends to over 20,000 records of new birds ringed. In addition a comprehensive

database of all recoveries and controls has been set up and is being maintained. Since its

involvement with the reintroduction of ringing by The Norfolk Ornithologists Association

(NOA) at Holme Bird Observatory (HBO), archive records of 32,741 birds of 136 species have

been computerised by the group. Only in this way can analyses be undertaken that can assist

conservation organisations in their decision making and the group is playing its part in

monitoring a wide range of species that are of conservation concern.

Due to our geographical location we are uniquely placed to undertake research of species

such as wintering Snow Bunting and Twite, a declining species causing concern nationally, and

we are currently doing so with Phil Atkinson's Phd research. The groups dataset of nearly

1,000 Snow Buntings ringed from 1990-1996 may well be unique nationally, and is certainly

so for Norfolk. This project alone has done much to identify flock compositions and to

substantiate techniques for racial separation using plumage characteristics. Another study

involving Wheatears in spring is concerned with the incidence and timing of the leucorhoa

race on the N.W. Norfolk coast. It is intended to publish these results in the appropriate

journals with papers (in prep).

We are currently working closely with the RSPB at Snettisham investigating the breeding

biology of Ringed Plovers and a colour ringing programme instigated by Paul Fisher in 1994,

is now the focus of Phd research by a group member, Durwyn Liley, trying to determine how

predation and disturbance affect a territorial species. Work on Avocets is planned for 1997

and it is hoped a colour ringing programme will provide data on productivity, survival and

recruitment to the breeding colony.

Our long term monitoring of the breeding bird populations of Snettisham Coastal Park,

complements the Common Bird Census (CBC), carried out by their staff and volunteers. This

site ought to be the subject of Constant Effort Site (CES) monitoring, but is not practical due

to its extremely weather sensitive location, instead we have to be content to ring whenever

weather conditions are suitable. However we believe that long term monitoring and the

retrap data that this generates enables us to look at productivity and survival.

Ringers are being constantly urged to undertake more meaningful studies and we believe that

our specialist ringing projects address some of these issues, although we shall also continue

to monitor common species. Details of our projects are given in the next section of this report.

3

GROUP RINGING PROJECTS CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN

Holme Bird Observatory. Run by the Norfolk Ornithologists Association (NOA) Part of the Bird

Observatory network and member of the Bird Observatories Council.

Most of the census work of the Observatory is carried out by the Warden and NOA members.

The ringing is ongoing throughout the year but tends to concentrate on the spring and autumn

migration and winter thrushes.

The group assists the NOA to maintain a ringing programme and is helping the Warden, Ged

Andrews to gain a ringing licence by providing training.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Population Structure and Racial Origin

A great deal of work has been carried out in Scotland on the origins, population structure and

movements of Snow Buntings but very little is known about the species in the south of Britain,

despite the large numbers of birds that winter on the east coast. This study, now in its seventh

year aims at investigating the population structure and origins of Snow Bunting flocks that

occur on the Norfolk coast. Since January 1991, 919 Snow Buntings have been ringed and

colour-ringed by the group.

Scientific aims of the NWNRG are:

1. To determine the age, sex and racial composition of the flocks wintering in

Norfolk both within and between winters.

2. To compare the results of this study with that of others notably Banks et al (1989,

1990), Smith, R.D (1992). and Smith et al (1993), Jukema J. and Fokemma, J.(1992),

and Findley, P. (1991-1994).

3. To colour ring all Snow Buntings captured to generate sightings and recoveries.

4 Use these sightings and recoveries to obtain a picture of between site movements in

a particular winter and also between winters. To investigate other patterns of

movement of our colour marked population within Britain.

5. To validate ageing and sexing criteria proposed by Banks et al (1990) and Smith

(1992)of Snow Buntings in winter plumage.

6. Use techniques proposed by Banks et al (1990) to racially assign Snow Buntings in

winter plumage.

7. To compare the racing techniques proposed by Banks et al (1990) with an alternative

technique described by Jukema and Fokkema (1992) which utilises a more

comprehensive system of feather tract scoring.

8. To evaluate which of the scoring systems is most reliable and if found to rank equal in

reliability to be able to recommend that of the two scoring methods the first which

simply estimates the amount of dark on primary 9 (or the second innermost) as a

percentage score of the visible portion of the feather is the simplest to apply.

9. To catch Snow Buntings in winter in Norfolk and using the techniques outlined above

age, sex and racially assign all those captured.

10. To publish papers in the relevant journals of the results. Atkinson, P (in press).

4

REFERENCES

Banks, K.W., Clark, H., Mackay, I.R.K., Mackay, S.G. and Sellers, R.M. (1990). Ageing, sexing

and racing Snow Buntings in winter plumage. Ringers Bulletin 7, 84-87.

Banks, K.W., Clark, H., Mackay, I.R.K., Mackay, S.G and Sellers, R.M. (1989). Biometrics and

premigratory fattening in the Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis. Ringing and Migration 10,

141-157.

Banks, K.W., Clark, H., Mackay, I.R.K., Mackay, S.G and Sellers, R.M. (1991). Origins,

population structure and movements of Snow Buntings wintering in the Highland region,

Scotland. Bird Study 38, 10-19.

Findley, P. () Snow Buntings at Sandwich Bay. in Kent Bird Report 91-94.

Jukemma, J. and Fokemma, J. (1992). Herkomst van in Nederland overwinterende

Sneeuwgorzen Plectrophenax nivalis. Limosa 65, 67-72.

Rae, R. and Marquis, M. (1989). Ageing and sexing of Snow Buntings wintering on the

Aberdeenshire coast, their biometrics and sex ratio. Ringing and Migration, 133-140.

Smith, R.D.(1992). Age determination, wing-feather colour and wing-length changes in Snow

Buntings. Ringing and Migration, 13, 43-51.

Smith, R.D., Marquiss, M., Rae, R. and Metcalfe, N.B. (1993). Age and sex variation in choice

of wintering site by Snow Buntings: the effect of altitude. Ardea, 81, 47-52.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe The incidence and timing of the Greenland race

during the spring migration period in Norfolk.

The nominate race Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe and the Greenland/Icelandic race Oenanthe

oenanthe leucorhoa occur on the Norfolk coast in both spring and autumn. This study

concentrates on the spring migration period.

Since 1990 the group has trapped 366 Wheatears. Details of age and sex, biometrics and

trapping dates have been recorded. Detailed analysis has been undertaken by J.Middleton,

and the results so far are presented elsewhere in this report. In due course it is intended to

publish a paper in an appropriate journal.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticular Colour ringing programme.

A programme initiated by Paul Fisher RSPB Snettisham in 1994 to investigate the breeding

dynamics of Ringed Plover breeding on the shingle beach from Heacham to the RSPB

Snettisham Reserve, approximately 5 km long. The programme was begun by J.Middleton and

D.Harmer (who did most of the nest location). By the end of 1995 a total of 73 adults had

been trapped and ringed and individually colour ringed, in addition 95 pulli had also been

ringed and colour ringed according to year, although only 44 are thought to have fledged.

Dominic's contract with the RSPB ended in early 1996.

The importance of this study was soon recognised and in order to drive the project forward

D.Liley from the University of East Anglia joined the group and has made it the focus of a Phd.

that he is undertaking. A summary of his first year’s work is given later in this report.

5

Twite Carduelis flavirotris Colour ringing and dye marking programme.

In recent years mid-winter counts have indicated that they have been the poorest on record

whilst autumn counts have been reasonable. This programme aims to investigate two aspects

of Twite Carduelis flavirostris behaviour:

1. The Wash as a staging post for south-eastern birds.

2. Home range and movements in mid-winter.

Captured birds have been colour ringed, in addition some have been dyed using either Picric

acid (yellow changing after approximately one week to orange) or Rhodamine which is pink.

Radio tagging is planned for 1997

The programme is part of a study by Phil Atkinson leading to a PhD.

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis monitoring the breeding colony at Hunstanton.

The group have been monitoring the breeding population of Fulmar at Hunstanton since

1990. Which has grown since the 1980's. (Slater 1987).As many pullus as could be safely

reached have been ringed annually. Additionally some adults have also been captured with a

hand net and interestingly three controls so far have all been ringed originally as pulli in the

Firth of Forth in Scotland, all in different years, the oldest being 20 years old. These birds all

demonstrate the southerly range expansion noted by Fisher (1952).

In 1994 a detailed behavioural and vocalisation study was undertaken by Sabine Schmitt

which was the subject of an article in the 1994 NWNRG Report.

Fisher, J.(1952). The Fulmar. London

Schmitt, S. (1995). Untersuchungen an den Eissturmvoegeln (Fulmarus glacialis L., 1761) von

Hunstanton (Norfolk): Verhaltensbeobachtungen und Analyse der Lautaeusserungen.-

Diplomarbeit, Marburg. Unpublished.

Slater, C. (1987). Fulmar population changes. Trans. Norfolk Norwich Nat. Soc. 27, 421-423.

Other projects include:

1. Monitoring through ringing, the avian population of Snettisham Coastal Park

2. A survey of autumn and wintering finches, buntings (especially Yellowhammers

Emberiza citrinella) and Tree Sparrows Passer montanus and their habitat

preferences at Beacon Hill, Chosely and Abbey Farm, Flitcham. It is planned to

investigate the use of winter stubble and compare this use to sites where

natural food sources are augmented by supplementary feeding.

At Abbey Farm small numbers of Tree Sparrows breed on the farm and feed in

winter on seed put out for them as well as on areas of Fat Hen Chenopodium album

sown especially for these mixed winter flocks.

We aim to maintain a high scientific objective to our studies and many of these are specialist

species orientated or involve species which are of concern nationally and are of high

conservation interest.

6

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

The year began with the annual BTO ringer’s conference at Swanwick, the group being

represented by Mike Reed, Sabine Schmitt and John Middleton.

At a meeting held on the 13th January, Durwyn Liley and Phil Littler joined the group.

During January group attention was focussed on Snow buntings and the first catch on the

19th at Heacham North Beach produced 31 new birds plus 5 retraps of birds trapped in

December 1995 at Salthouse. We also captured 10 Turnstones and 4 Turnstone controls, 8

Sanderlings and 4 Sanderling controls! These waders were feeding on the millet seed put

down for the buntings. Whilst Turnstones have been observed previously eating discarded

chips as well as millet on occasion, habits which we had taken advantage of, we had not

before seen Sanderling behave in this way! Garden whoosh netting concentrated on Starlings

and gulls at Burnham Market.

The light snow and prolonged frosts of early February brought large numbers of Fieldfares to

Holme Bird Observatory where they were feeding on Sea Buckthorn. Highest estimated count

was approximately 1500 on the 8th, we were able to catch record (for the group) numbers of

this species until the 9th when high winds stopped mist netting. A cold weather ban, affecting

wildfowl and waders was announced at the same time. By the time that the wind had abated

and it was again possible to mist net the birds had stripped the bushes and departed! Two

further Snow Bunting catches this month at Salthouse and Heacham produced 93 (61 retraps

and 31 new) and 60 (38 retraps and 22 new) birds respectively. A combination of gales and

very high tides on the 19th that breached the sea defence at Salthouse and Cley, stopped any

further attempts at catching at Salthouse this winter. The author visited the area on the 21st,

1 hour after high tide and saw first hand the extent of the seas encroachment which rendered

the coast road from Cley to Salthouse impassable, it being under several feet of water at the

time, giving us an insight of what might happen if a policy of managed retreat was to be

adopted!

During March the group combined forces with the WWRG who had very kindly offered to

assist in an attempt to cannon net Ringed Plovers at Heacham. The first attempt on the 6th

failed but a second try on the 10th produced 18 birds (as well as an assortment of other

waders) thus getting Durwyn Liley's study off to a good start. Other members of the group

also had a successful day on the 10th with 13 Waxwings trapped at Kings Lynn.

Trapping of Wheatears began on the 20th and continued throughout the month, despite the

below average temperatures and strong north and easterly winds that at times made catching

difficult as the mealworms quickly succumbed to the windchill factor and refused to wriggle

temptingly!

This pattern of below average temperatures combined with predominately northerly winds

was to persist throughout most of April, however the trapping of Wheatears continued with

good success despite the weather and by the end of the month it was apparent that it would

be a record year for this species. Meanwhile mist netting at Holme Bird Observatory gathered

momentum sampling the first of the spring migrants and the first mist netting session at

Snettisham Coastal Park was on the 27th.

7

Throughout May trapping of Wheatears continued and mist netting at Snettisham gained

momentum. By the end of the month the total for Wheatears captured during the year was a

record, the last captured on the 4th June, were leucorhoa females.

During June ringing of Swallow pulli began and three group members (Trevor Girling, Sabine

Schmitt and John Middleton), travelled to Scotland to ring the seabird pulli on Sanda Island

with Rab Morton and other members of the Clyde R.G. One aspect of this trip which began

on the 22nd was the thought provoking sight of numerous Wheatear (nominate Oenanthe

oenanthe) fledglings just three weeks after we were catching the last of the leucorhoa birds

still heading north to their breeding grounds in Iceland/Greenland or N.E. Canada.

July focussed on mist netting the breeding birds at the Osier Carr and Snettisham Coastal Park.

It soon became apparent as the month progressed that the breeding season had not been

good with below average numbers of warblers, particularly Reed and Sedge. Terry Halahan

and Trevor Girling both attended the Sorby Breck ringing course and gained their "C" Permits.

August began with the annual attempts to capture adult Fulmar and ring as many chicks as

could be reached. Using the same light ladder as last year we were only able to reach and ring

five chicks, the lowest total since we began to survey this colony in 1990. John Middleton and

Sabine Schmitt travelled to Wales to assist Ian Spence on a project aimed at ringing

acrocephalus warblers in Pembrokeshire, this was to be the fifth and final year, the appalling

weather resulted in the project being abandoned!

A visit to the wagtail roost to perhaps capture hirundines resulted in a catch of 60 Pied

Wagtails! We were rather surprised that the wagtail roost had begun here already, although

as we did not find this roost until November 1995 we obviously have much to learn about the

site and the way this species uses it, a bonus was that there is also a swallow roost, although

in a different section of the reed bed!

As far as warblers were concerned August was on the whole a disappointing month with

below average numbers particularly of juvenile birds.

September began rather slowly, attempts to attract House Martins to tape from the 1st met

with very little success although over 30 were captured on the 3rd. Mist netting at SCP on the

8th was more promising with the first catch of over 60 new birds since May other than birds

captured going to roost or hirundines tape lured. Plans to ring at Holme Bird Observatory on

the 9th were postponed due to a very obliging Red breasted Flycatcher continuing to

entertain large numbers of visitors and enriching the coffers of the Norfolk Ornithologists

Association in the process! This bird and probably a second had been present from the 7th,

the group in line with current BTO policy prudently restrained themselves from attempting to

catch it despite the fact that it repeatedly crossed a regularly used net ride! It was felt to be

unwise to attempt to capture this bird and thus possibly invite criticism from the bird

watching fraternity. Around the 18th of the month, the weather pattern looked set for a fall

with high pressure over Scandinavia and strong N. easterly winds, however during the next

three days the hoped for, (and forecast), overnight rain did not occur and therefore large

numbers of birds were never present. Visible migration was observed, with small numbers of

birds coming in off the sea continually. Our highlight was a Norwegian ringed Whitethroat.

October began with strong S. westerly winds dominating the second week preventing us from

making any catches at the Coastal Park, ringing being confined to the more sheltered sites of

Holme Bird Observatory and Beacon Hill where good numbers of finches, including some

8

Bramblings were caught. On Monday 13th a 1st winter Isabelline Shrike arrived at Holme Bird

Observatory where it delighted a constant stream of visitors, over 1000 in all. Despite making

no deliberate attempt to capture this bird, it nevertheless turned up in one of the standard

pattern of nets during routine ringing operations on the 19th. Contrary to the opinions of a

few birders amongst the group privileged to view the bird in the hand, and its release, that it

would not be seen again, it stayed for a further three days before departing! On the 22nd and

23rd huge numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings, together with lesser numbers of Chaffinches

were seen at Snettisham and along the coast to Holme. Attempts to capture these birds at

both Snettisham and Holme were thwarted somewhat by the windy conditions yet again!

November alternated between periods of high winds and heavy rain contrasting with some

calmer weather. A further visit to the Pied Wagtail roost this month was disappointing, the

number of birds present was very much lower than this time last year, however some Starlings

roosting in adjacent conifers were also using the reed bed and competition for roost space

may have caused the wagtails to seek alternative accommodation!

Mist netting at HBO continued throughout December when conditions would allow and good

numbers of Starlings were whoosh netted in gardens at Burnham Market and Kings Lynn. A

small number of Snow Buntings caught at Heacham, the first of the winter, comprised 10 new

and 8 retraps which had been originally ringed at Salthouse (1), Holkham (3) and Heacham(4)

during the previous winter! We again exploited the taste that Sanderlings and Turnstone have

developed for bait intended for Snow Buntings, a trait first noticed last year, by catching some

with the whoosh net!

1996 was an excellent year for the group despite the long cold spring, an apparently poor

breeding season and below expected numbers being trapped during the post juvenile

dispersal and early autumn migration period. We ended the year with a record number of

birds ringed during the year. This achievement, coupled with the strengthening of the

groups position, now that the number of qualified ringers has increased, augers well for

1997.

9

MONTHLY RINGING TOTALS FOR 1996

SPECIES Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Fulmar 7 7

Sparrowhawk 1 2 3

Kestrel 1 1 2

Water Rail 2 1 1 4

Oystercatcher 1 1

Ringed Plover 13 2 17 75 17 4 128

Lapwing 2 2

Sanderling 8 53 61

Dunlin 1 1

Turnstone 10 11 21

Black-headed Gull 16 8 2 26

Common Gull 3 6 9

Puffin 1 1

Stock Dove 3 3

Woodpigeon 2 1 2 4

Turtle Dove 1 3 4

Barn Owl 10 10

Tawny Owl 1 2 3

Wryneck 1 1

Green Woodpecker 1 1 1 3

Skylark 1 1 3 5

Sand Martin 1 1

Swallow 86 30 81 11 208

House Martin 3 1 37 41

Tree Pipit 1 1

Meadow Pipit 3 6 4 2 15

Yellow Wagtail 1 2 3

Pied Wagtail 1 4 89 38 26 19 1 178

Waxwing 13 13

Wren 3 2 1 14 6 2 25 15 7 10 5 1 91

Dunnock 8 32 2 13 8 26 20 14 10 20 16 1 170

Robin 4 4 4 12 3 14 5 2 54 11 9 122

Nightingale 1 1 2

Black Redstart 2 4 6

Redstart 2 1 17 20

Whinchat 8 7 2 17

Stonechat 6 1 7

Wheatear 25 127 43 3 1 199

10


Black bird 20 56 16 25 10 12 4 2 16 66 72 38 337

Fieldfare 155 1 156

Song Thrush 2 5 2 2 2 9 1 19 9 4 55

Redwing 5 1 23 3 2 34

Mistle Thrush 1 1

Grasshopper Warbler 1 3 4

Sedge Warbler 22 29 10 27 14 4 106

Reed Warbler 15 25 22 29 23 114

Barred Warbler 1 1

Lesser Whitethroat 1 24 4 6 8 8 51

Whitethroat 7 11 11 24 12 13 78

Garden Warbler 12 1 4 20 1 38

Blackcap 4 26 21 1 32 4 33 12 3 1 137

Wood Warbler 1 1

Chiffchaff 27 6 20 7 4 1 65

Willow Warbler 47 36 4 27 8 26 148

Goldcrest 2 22 2 1 4 44

Firecrest 2 1 3

Spotted Flycatcher 3 4 7

Pied Flycatcher 3 3

Long-tailed Tit 1 1 16 4 13 32 67

Marsh Tit 1 1 1 1 4

Willow Tit 1 1

Coal Tit 1 1 5 4 4 15

Blue Tit 5 27 1 5 1 18 41 15 35 33 11 1 193

Great Tit 2 9 25 3 18 5 8 6 6 1 83

Treecreeper 3 3

Isabelline Shrike 1 1

Starling 169 20 56 4 4 1 7 203 296 760

House Sparrow 1 3 1 13 3 21

Tree Sparrow 4 32 36

Chaffinch 6 67 8 17 7 2 4 1 23 88 32 2 258

Brambling 1 17 4 22

Greenfinch 12 8 1 2 3 3 6 29 52 28 16 160

Goldfinch 10 9 4 5 5 5 12 1 51

Siskin 4 4

Linnet 8 8 11 24 5 4 1 61

Redpoll 1 1

Bullfinch 2 1 5 2 2 2 2 2 18

11


Snow Bunting 31 54 10 95

Yellowhammer 26 5 2 33

Reed Bunting 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 8 19

Total 308 516 169 447 304 345 405 353 491 447 454 444 4683

Figure 1 : Monthly ringing totals 1996.

0

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Monthly Totals 1996

12

GRAPHS – ANNUAL TOTALS AND NUMBER OF SPECIES RINGED 1990 – 1996.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Annual Totals 1990 - 1996

0

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Number of species ringed

1990 - 1996

13

ANNUAL TOTALS : 1990 – 1996.

Species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total

Fulmar 21 28 17 23 21 7 117

Manx Shearwater 1 1

Mute Swan 14 62 90 66 9 2 244

Egyptian Goose 1 1

Shelduck 6 3 9

Mallard 2 8 7 7 24

Marsh Harrier 31 16 38 37 14 27 163

Sparrowhawk 2 4 3 3 3 15

Kestrel 11 1 2 2 5 2 23

Water Rail 4 4

Moorhen 4 2 1 7

Coot 6 3 9

Oystercatcher 2 6 1 12 3 1 23

Avocet 24 9 24 2 57

Ringed Plover 15 4 53 183 46 128 429

Lapwing 35 36 33 16 14 11 2 142

Sanderling 61 61

Dunlin 1 1

Snipe 1 1

Woodcock 1 1

Redshank 4 6 4 2 16

Turnstone 5 6 22 33

Black-headed Gull 10 37 26 73

Common Gull 11 1 9 21

Common Tern 7 4 11

Little Tern 10 4 1 15

Puffin 1 1

Stock Dove 13 7 10 2 1 3 32

Woodpigeon 4 7 6 2 5 24

Collared Dove 1 1

Turtle Dove 1 1 4 6

Cuckoo 1 1

Barn Owl 2 1 1 3 2 5 10 24

Little Owl 1 1

Tawny Owl 2 3 5

Long-eared Owl 1 1 2

14

Species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total

Short-eared Owl 1 1 2

Swift 1 5 2 8

Kingfisher 1 2 3

Wryneck 1 1

Green Woodpecker 2 3 5 3 13

Gr Spotted Woodpecker 2 3 2 2 9

Skylark 13 1 2 7 24 8 5 60

Sand Martin 2 142 218 55 76 1 420

Swallow 64 50 138 113 671 143 208 1387

House Martin 1 40 91 460 2 50 41 649

Tree Pipit 1 1 1 2

Meadow Pipit 47 9 17 33 5 15 126

Yellow Wagtail 3 3

Grey Wagtail 1 1

Pied Wagtail 3 5 11 44 146 178 389

Waxwing 1 13 14

Dipper 1 1 2

Wren 25 39 36 109 92 73 91 459

Dunnock 41 109 109 196 125 139 170 889

Robin 74 60 49 162 81 60 122 608

Bluethroat 1 1

Nightingale 1 2 3

Black Redstart 1 1 6 8

Redstart 2 4 19 17 11 20 73

Whinchat 1 7 2 7 17 34

Stonechat 2 1 7 10

Wheatear 30 23 27 2 65 6 199 352

Ring Ouzel 2 1 3

Blackbird 112 346 88 234 138 60 337 1315

Fieldfare 2 13 9 19 8 156 207

Song Thrush 32 75 24 107 30 14 56 338

Redwing 9 20 49 7 1 34 120

Mistle Thrush 2 15 4 2 3 1 27

Grasshopper Warbler 7 5 1 1 3 4 21

Sedge Warbler 6 63 34 45 75 194 106 523

Reed Warbler 32 46 44 45 217 134 114 632

15

Species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total

Icterine Warbler 1 1

Barred Warbler 1 4 2 1 8

Lesser Whitethroat 8 32 18 46 17 72 51 244

Whitethroat 6 17 15 47 25 179 78 367

Garden Warbler 2 17 8 36 59 20 38 228

Blackcap 16 31 128 134 75 119 137 640

Yellow-browed Warbler 1 1 2

Wood Warbler 1 1 2

Chiffchaff 4 7 14 26 21 37 65 174

Willow Warbler 8 22 25 84 45 125 148 457

Goldcrest 144 13 6 104 44 11 44 366 Firecrest 1 3 4 Spotted Flycatcher 2 7 7 2 7 5 7 37 Pied Flycatcher 2 1 5 13 3 24 Bearded Tit 2 2 4 Long-tailed Tit 57 63 25 167 45 81 67 505 Marsh Tit 2 1 2 2 1 1 4 13 Willow Tit 4 2 1 1 8 Coal Tit 5 15 3 12 8 3 15 61 Blue Tit 54 287 149 233 208 130 193 1254 Great Tit 17 72 36 92 56 62 83 418 Nuthatch 1 1 2 Treecreeper 1 1 3 4 4 3 3 19 Isabelline Shrike 1 1 Red-backed Shrike 2 2 Jay 1 1 2 Magpie 2 8 2 1 13 Jackdaw 3 3 Starling 93 151 161 35 186 39 760 1425 House Sparrow 1 1 3 20 21 46 Tree Sparrow 3 9 6 36 54 Chaffinch 22 157 60 307 98 140 258 1042 Brambling 32 5 3 22 62 Greenfinch 21 620 104 54 51 93 160 1103 Goldfinch 2 7 14 36 1 25 51 136 Siskin 1 1 4 6 Linnet 22 26 20 35 49 61 313

16

Species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total Twite 4 45 3 52 Redpoll 5 6 6 1 18 Crossbill 1 1 Bullfinch 15 12 10 31 1 12 18 99 Snow Bunting 146 57 293 48 253 95 892 Yellowhammer 14 14 11 13 15 32 33 132 Reed Bunting 4 21 15 25 23 23 19 130 Corn Bunting 1 1

Total 1247 3152 2014 3745 3133 2741 4696 20728 No. Species 74 81 58 74 71 59 80 114

Combined totals of the eight most commonly ringed warbler species 1990 – 1996

Eight most commonly ringed warblers

Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat

Garden Warbler Blackcap Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Combined warbler totals as percentage of year totals 1990 – 1996

0 500 1000

Year 1990

Year 1991

Year 1992

Year 1993

Year 1994

Year 1995

Year 1996

Year 1997

Hundreds

0 10 20 30 40

Year 1990

Year 1991

Year 1992

Year 1993

Year 1994

Year 1995

Year 1996

Year 1997

Percent

Eight most commonly ringed warblers Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat

Garden Warbler Blackcap Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

17

GRAPHS: ANNUAL TOTALS OF EIGHT SPECIES OF WARBLER 1990 – 1996.

0 50 100 150 200 250

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Sedgewarbler

0 50 100 150 200 250

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Reed Warbler

0 20 40 60 80

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Lesser Whitethroat

0 50 100 150 200

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Whitethroat

0 20 40 60 80

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Garden Warbler

0 50 100 150

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Blackcap

0 20 40 60 80

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Chiffchaff

0 100 200

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Willow Warbler

18

SITE and SPECIES REPORTS

The group operates at a network of sites in north west Norfolk and objectives at each vary

according to the study site. For this reason sites and species are combined in the report this

year otherwise much of the information would be duplicated. For example our interest in

autumn and winter finches, buntings and Tree Sparrow Passer montanus is not confined to a

particular site and so we consider the best way to present this infomation is by site. With

some species it is more convenient to present the information by species, as for example, in

the case of Swallow Hirundo rustica, where we visit numerous farms solely to ring pullii. Or

where a study is being conducted on a particular species such as Ringed Plover Charadrius

hiaticula, or on a particular species at a number of sites as in the case of Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis. When a particular site or species is the subject of an article or paper

presented later in this report the reader is referred to Page 1 for the list of contents. The work

at Holme Bird Observatory is also detailed separately and not included in this section of the

report.

Abbey Farm, Flitcham

Site CodeAFF Habitat CodeF3 E3 Farmland

1996: 144 of 9 species

Most of the farm operations are conducted in a way which is sympathetic to wildlife. Small

areas are sown specifically for winter passerines with for example, Fat Hen Chenopodium

album and feeding stations have been set up. Good numbers of Chaffinches and

Yellowhammers together with Tree Sparrows make good use of these food sources. These

species are the group’s major interest at this site.

Table 1: Total birds ringed at Abbey Farm in 1996

Blackbird 1 Reed Bunting 3

Blue Tit 3 Robin 1

Chaffinch 58 Tree Sparrow 36

Dunnock 32 Wren 3

Greenfinch 1

Total 1996: ....................144 birds of 9 species

Crabbe Hall Farm, Burnham Market

Two sites are operated by the group at Crabbe Hall Farm:

Beacon Hill, Burnham Market

Site Code BHB Habitat Code B1 E4 Scrub

19

A small area of hawthorn and blackthorn scrub with elder and blackberry, set amongst tilled

land. Additionally there are boxes in two of the farm buildings for Barn Owls. This year both

were used for the first time, although previous occupants have been Stock Dove and Kestrel.

Six owlets were ringed this year and all fledged. Corn tailings tipped at this site encourage

reasonable numbers of finches and Yellowhammers.

105 Chaffinches (35.5%), 32 Yellowhammers (10.8%), 15 Bramblings (5.1%) and 13

Goldfinches (4.4%) were caught. This was the best year since 1991 for Bramblings. Winter

thrushes were poorly represented again this year with only 11 Redwings (3.7%) and 29

Blackbirds (9.8%).

Osier Carr, Burnham Overy

Site Code OBO Habitat Code C7 F3 Reed swamp and willow carr

1996: 127 birds of 15 species

Reedswamp with developing willow carr, it is surrounded on two sides by mature trees, the

third by farmland and on the fourth by the River Burn. It's sheltered location enables ringing

to take place whatever the wind except when it is from the west.

Reed Warblers which we did not trap in 1995, but previously bred here, were trapped again

and at least one nest was found. 9 Sedge Warblers (7.0%), 27 Blackcap (21.3%) and 18

Chiffchaff (14.2%) comprised 42.5% of the total.

Table 2: Total number of birds ringed at Crabbe Hall Farm in 1996 (both sites combined)

Species Total Species Total

Barn Owl 6 Redwing 11

Blackbird 30 Reed Warbler 5

Blackcap 28 Robin 7

Blue Tit 16 Sedge Warbler 9

Brambling 15 Song Thrush 8

Chaffinch 105 Swallow 8

Chiffchaff 19 Treecreeper 3

Dunnock 26 Willow Tit 1

Goldcrest 2 Willow Warbler 5

Goldfinch 13 Woodpigeon 2

Great Tit 10 Wren 22

Long-Tailed Tit 37 Yellowhammer 32

Marsh Tit 1 Whitethroat 5

Oystercatcher 1

Total 1996:....................423 birds of 26 species

20

Snettisham Coastal Park

Site Code SCP Habitat Code C7 B1 Reedmarsh and scrub

The group were able to operate the site again this year thanks to the Trustees of the Ken Hill

Estate and King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.

The park comprises 143 acres of land with a variety of habitats ranging from open water,

reedmarsh, rough grass, thorn scrub and rabbit grazed turf with gravel areas bounded by the

eastern shingle beach of the Wash on the seaward side and the raised earth bank of sea

defences to the west.

The diverse habitat supports good numbers of breeding birds particularly Reed, Sedge,

Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warblers and an estimated 10 pairs of

Grasshopper Warbler but also finches(Linnets), Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. Table 3: Total Number of birds caught at Snettisham Coastal Park in 1996

Species Total Species Total Species Total Sparrowhawk 3 Nightingale 1 Blackcap 29 Kestrel 1 Black Redstart 4 Chiffchaff 13 Water Rail 1 Whinchat 16 Willow Warbler 59 Turtle Dove 4 Stonechat 5 Goldcrest 2 Wryneck 1 Wheatear 190 Long-tailed Tit 24 Green Woodpecker 3 Blackbird 41 Marsh Tit 1 Skylark 4 Song Thrush 12 Blue Tit 72 Swallow 12 Redwing 8 Great Tit 24 House Martin 38 Mistle Thrush 1 Starling 6 Tree Pipit 1 Grasshopper Warbler 4 House Sparrow 2 Meadow Pipit 13 Sedge Warbler 64 Chaffinch 15 Yellow Wagtail 1 Reed Warbler 83 Greenfinch 29 Pied Wagtail 3 Barred Warbler 1 Goldfinch 19 Wren 22 Lesser Whitethroat 33 Linnet 60 Dunnock 44 Whitethroat 64 Bullfinch 11 Robin 26 Garden Warbler 9 Reed Bunting 5

Total 1996:....................1084 birds of 48 species

Table 4: Totals of the eight most commonly ringed warblers at Snettisham

Coastal Park in 1996.

Sedge Warbler 64 (190) Garden Warbler 9 (19)

Reed Warbler 83 (122) Blackcap 29 (74)

Lesser Whitethroat 33 (69) Chiffchaff 13 (15)

Whitethroat 64 (168) Willow Warbler 59 (109) Total 1996…………………354 birds

Species totals were all down on last year, particularly of the eight warbler species. The

figures given in brackets are the totals for 1995. The long cold spring delayed the arrival of

many species, especially Reed Warblers. Those attempting to breed faced a second period

of below average temperatures which caused many nesting attempts to fail. In late June and

July the reed beds were unusually quiet with many Reed Warblers having given up.

21

Early indications of a generally poor breeding season soon became obvious during the post

juvenile dispersal period when the numbers being caught each capture session were

extremely low.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Hempton Pit, Hempton

Site Code HEM Habitat Code G5 Disused sand and gravel workings.

1996: Nil

Previously sand and gravel workings, now disused. It was then used as a refuse tip by Norfolk

County Council until the site was full, when it was then capped.

The Sand Martin colony contained about 10 pairs of breeding birds during 1996,an

improvement on last year when none bred. This colony began to decline in 1993. No

attempts were made to capture this species this year as we considered that any intrusion

and disturbance, however small was unjustified. Sand Martin colonies are highly mobile and

tend to instability, with the breeding population of a particular colony moving to

new/different sites. This may well be linked to the build-up of parasites at a colony which is

then deserted in favour of a new location. We will continue to monitor this site hoping that

it will recover in 1997.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

We operate a number of baited sites along the Norfolk coast in winter. The principal ones

being detailed below. Our specialist colour ringing study is now in its eighth year.

Salthouse Site Code SAL Habitat Code H1 C6 Marine open shore and shingle sea

defence bank.

Snettisham Site Code SNE Habitat Code H1 Marine open shore and short rabbit

grazed turf and gravelled areas

Heacham Site Code HNB Habitat Code H1 Marine open shore

Holkham Site Code HLK Habitat Code H1 Marine open shore, dune system and

developing salt marsh.

Total 1996:...................95 all sites.

Other sites are used depending on whether birds are present in a particular year. Already the

study has shown that this species is highly mobile and birds not only move from site to site

within winters but also are not particularly site faithful between winters. Retrap data is

recorded each time a bird is handled both within and between winters for all sites. Our retrap

data is beginning to yield some interesting aspects of these movements, a selection of capture

histories are given below, which illustrate these movements.

Our study tends to focus on a 'Winter' which extends from November to March and therefore

crosses over from one year to the next. Numbers of new and retrapped birds since the study

began in 1990 are given in table 5.

22

Table 5: Numbers of new and retrap Snow Buntings since 1990.

Winter New Birds Retraps

1990/91 147 52

1991/92 57 25

1992/93 144 41

1993/94 199 71

1994/95 101 46

1995/96 248 106

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

Since 1990 the group has monitored the colony at Hunstanton Cliffs which is unique in

Norfolk and comprises approximately 450 -480 birds. We aim to ring as many chicks as can

be safely reached with a ladder, climbing is not an option owing to the unstable nature of

the cliff. It consists of a lower layer of sandstone (carrstone) and a red and white chalk

upper layer (Gallois 1984). The cliff face is being constantly eroded, losing approximately 15

cm per year inland (Humber Publ. 1960). Extensive rock falls in the winter of 1995/96 has

resulted in many of the lower nest sites disappearing. One consequence of this was many of

the birds were nesting much higher than before and could not be reached. Only 5 chicks

were ringed this year plus two adults captured with the hand net, a count of chicks on the

16th August totalled 79 and most of these were expected to fledge.

Total 1996:....................7 birds.

Swallow Hirundo Rustica

The group visit a variety of farms, stables and deserted buildings too numerous to mention

individually. Sites are continually being added as contacts are established, our aim is to ring

as many pullii as we can of this species. Results are therefore difficult to interpret from year

to year but we think that 1996 was reasonable. The cold late spring delayed breeding but

still some pairs managed to rear three broods.

Total 1996:....................208birds (38 Full grown, 170pullii)

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii

The group is continuing the work began in late 1995 at the reed bed roost at Fakenham. We

aim to generate recoveries in order to build a picture of local movements as the

autumn/winter roosts break up and disperse. As yet there has been very little progress made.

Total 1996....................169 birds

23

SUMMARY OF SITE TOTALS FOR 1996 AND KEY TO SITE CODES

Site Code Total

Abbey Farm, Flitcham AFF 144

Back Lane, Burnham Market JMB 570

Beacon Hill, Burnham Market BHB 296

Camping Hill, Stiffkey CHS 26

Docking Road, Stanhoe THS 8

Fishers, Fakenham, Reedbed FFR 276

Gateley Common, Gateley GAT 21

Gaywood, Kings Lynn TKL 259

Holme Bird Observatory, Holme-Next-The-Sea HBO 1370

Heacham North Beach, Heacham HNB 183

Hunstanton Cliffs, Hunstanton HUC 7

Osier Carr, Burnham Overy Town OBO 127

Salthouse SAL 33

Snettisham Coastal Park, Snettisham SCP 1084

Snettisham Beach, Snettisham SNE 117

Shammer SHA 26

Warham WAR 61

Others (10 with totals of 20 birds or less) and confidential sites 75

Total all sites 4683

REFERENCES

Gallois, R.W. (1984). The late Jurassic to mid Creteceous rocks of Norfolk. Bull. Geol. Soc.

Norfolk. 34, 3-64.

Humber Publications (1960). Hunstanton - The story of a small Norfolk Seaside Resort.

Hunstanton.

26

RINGING AT HOLME BIRD OBSERVATORY - 1996.

The Observatory managed a full years ringing in 1996 with ringing effort at a generally

constant level throughout the year. At the beginning of the year the cold conditions

encouraged large numbers of thrushes to feed strongly on the sea buckthorn berries within

the reserve. The February total of 194 winter thrushes included 156 Fieldfare one of which

was later recovered in summer in Sweden. There were also controls at the Observatory of

both Swedish and Danish Blackbirds.

The spring passage was less well marked than in previous years, beginning with a trickle of

migrants in March, peaking in April and rapidly declining in May.

The summer months at Holme are very quiet with few resident breeders on site and this is

reflected in the low ringing totals during this period.

The autumn passage, again not substantial, peaked in September and slowly declined through

October and November, with winter thrushes, which arrived from October onwards, not

staying on the coast but travelling directly inland.

Management work carried out during the year will hopefully bear fruit in future years and

plans are well advanced to replace the two derelict Heligoland traps in the sea buckthorn with

new constructions to the south of the main reserve path.

The 1370 birds ringed during 1996 bring the total ringed from 1962 to 1996 to 34,304 birds

of 136 species.

The ringing operations have received encouragement and support from the Norfolk

Ornithological Association (NOA), its warden and many members who are most welcome to

see the ringing activities at Holme Bird Observatory. We would like to thank all those visiting

ringers and others who have contributed to our activities during the year.

1996 Ringing Totals (excluding thrushes)

0

50

100

150

200

250

J F M A M J J A S O N D

1996 Ringing Totals

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Months of 1996 Months of 1996

The graphs clearly show the spring and autumn passage, particularly when the totals for

thrushes are excluded.

27

1996 Totals.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Kestrel 1 1 Water Rail 2 1 3 Black-headed Gull

3 1 4

Puffin 1 1 Woodpigeon 2 1 3 Tawny Owl 1 2 3 Wren 3 1 1 14 5 2 5 4 6 1 1 43 Dunnock 1 1 2 12 5 9 7 4 5 7 1 54 Robin 4 1 4 12 2 1 2 46 6 5 83 Nightingale 1 1 Redstart 2 1 17 20 Whinchat 1 1 Wheatear 1 1 1 3 Blackbird 20 30 5 25 4 1 2 49 50 15 201 Fieldfare 155 1 156 Song Thrush 1 4 2 1 1 18 3 2 32 Redwing 5 1 6 1 1 14 Sedge Warbler 12 15 1 2 1 31 Reed Warbler 13 3 1 4 4 25 Lesser Whitethroat

10 2 3 3 18

Whitethroat 7 3 1 2 1 14 Garden Warbler 5 3 20 1 29 Blackcap 4 26 15 1 20 10 3 1 60 Wood Warbler 1 1 Chiffchaff 27 6 33 Willow warbler 40 17 3 24 84 Goldcrest 2 22 2 3 4 7 40 Firecrest 2 1 3 Spotted Flycatcher

4 4

Pied Flycatcher 3 3 Long-tailed Tit 1 1 3 1 6 Marsh Tit 1 1 Coal Tit 1 1 5 3 10 Blue Tit 5 1 1 5 5 1 9 16 22 4 69 Great Tit 1 9 24 2 1 5 42 Isabelline Shrike 1 1 Starling 2 3 6 11 House Sparrow 1 1 Chaffinch 4 7 16 4 1 7 21 9 2 71 Brambling 1 2 4 7 Greenfinch 12 7 1 2 1 3 14 46 28 16 130 Goldfinch 9 7 3 19 Siskin 4 4 Redpoll 1 1 Bullfinch 1 1 1 2 2 7 Reed Bunting 2 2 Totals 57 212 35 264 123 22 21 44 229 197 120 46 1370

30

RINGING RECOVERIES AND CONTROLS.

This section of the report deals with recoveries and controls for 1996. The details are

presented with species arranged alphabetically and by recovery date with the ringing data

given on the first line and recovery data on the second. Directions, distances and elapsed

times are as notified to the group by the BTO.

A recovery is where a bird is reported dead, not released or released without its ring. A control

is where the bird is reported alive by another ringer or member of the public and released

with its ring.

The symbols and conventions used are given below.

Age when ringed is given according to the Euring code, the figures do not represent years and

interpretation is as follows:-

1 pullus (nestling or chick)

2 fully grown, year of hatching unknown

3J hatched during calendar year of ringing and showing juvenile plumage

3 hatched during calendar year of ringing

4 hatched before calendar year of ringing but exact year unknown

5 hatched during previous calendar year

6 hatched before previous calendar year but exact year unkown

7 definitely hatched two calendar years before ringing

8 hatched more than two calendar years before ringing but exact year

unknown

Sex M = Male, F = Female

Manner of recovery

X found dead

XF found freshly dead or dying

+ shot or intentionally killed by man

+F as + but fresh

SR sick or injured, released with ring

S sick or injured not known to have been released

A alive and probably healthy, fate unknown

AC alive and probably healthy, now captive

V alive and probably healthy, caught and released but not by a ringer

VV as V but ring or colour marks read in the field

R caught and released by ringer

B as R - nesting

RR as VV but by ringer

BB as RR - nesting

// condition on finding unknown

In addition, for many recoveries the cicumstances of recovery are also known e.g. oiled, killed

by cat, road casualty etc

31

Abbreviations used by foreign ringing schemes.

BLB Bruxelles, Belgium NLA Arnhem, Netherlands

CSP Praha, Czechoslovakia NOO Oslo, Norway

DDH Hiddensee, Germany NOS Stavanger, Norway

DFH Helgoland, Germany PLG Gdansk, Poland

DKC Copenhagen, Denmark POL Lisboa, Portugal

DKK Ronde, Denmark SFH Helsinki, Finland

ESA Aranzadi, Spain SUE Matsalu, Estonia

ESI Icona, Spain SUK Kaunus, Lithuania

FRP CRBPO, Paris, France SUM Moskwa, Russia

HES Sempach, Switzerland SUR Riga, Latvia

IAB Bologna, Italy SVS Stockholm, Sweden

ISR Reykjavik, Iceland YUL Ljubjana, former Yugoslavia

In 1996 there were 48 recoveries and controls notified to the group. A selection of these are shown

below for their general interest, distance travelled or because of the age of the bird involved.

Blackbird Turdus merula

DKC8947149

24/10/93 6M Christianso, Bornholm, Denmark.

04/02/96 R H.B.O., Holme-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk

988 Km WSW (255 DEG) 833 days

This is the groups first recovery of a Danish ringed Blackbird, we previously had four go to Sweden

and one to Holland.

RR72225

02/11/95 4 Kilnsea, Humberside, England

17/03/96 R Burnham Market, Norfolk, England

95 Km SE (143 DEG) 136 days

Possibly a continental migrant moving S.east

Dunnock Prunella modularis

H545026

10/10/91 3 Holme Dunes, Holme-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, England 01/03/96 R

HBO, Norfolk, England

0 Km NNW (336 DEG) 1603 days

Not the oldest of Dunnocks, but at nearly 5 years worthy of mention here.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

RE59109

04/02/96 5 H.B.O. Holme-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, England

17/06/96 X Djura Dalarna, Kopparberg, Sweden

1220 Km NE (46 DEG) 134 days

The third recovery of this species for the group.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

VK15592

04/05/95 5 Manby, Lincolnshire, England

15/01/96 R Holme-next-the-sea, Norfolk, England


32

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

K497210

27/04/96 4 Weybourne, Norfolk, England

14/05/96 R H.B.O, Holme-next-the-sea, Norfolk,England

40 Km W (273 DEG) 17 days

A rapid movement by a returning migrant during the spring passage.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

U4482

25/11/93 6 Salthouse, Norfolk, England

27/02/96 X Waxham, Norfolk, England

39 Km ESE (121 DEG) 824 days

U3599


11/03/96 XF North Elmham, Norfolk, England.

27 Km SSW (205 DEG) 854 days

This bird was last reported alive and well in October 1995 at Salthouse.

U2853

24/03/93 6 Coggeshall, Essex, England

08/03/96 XF Upshire, Essex, England


Redpoll Carduelis flammea

J583926

20/03/96 5 H.B.O. Holme-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, England

10/05/96 XF Stratford St Mary, Suffolk, England

115 Km SSE (166 DEG) 51 days

This is the first recovery of this species for the group, possibly killed by a cat!

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus

H701252

24/07/92 4 Icklesham, Sussex, England


230 Km N (358 DEG) 1387 days

This a recovery of a bird at least five years old possibly returning to breed in the reed bed at

at H.B.O.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

NV79052

01/09/94 6F Snettisham, Norfolk, England

09/10/95 VV Skern Flats, N. Devon, England

375 Km SW (205 DEG) 394 days

A colour ring siting of one our local breeding birds.

NV82648

02/06/96 1 Snettisham, Norfolk, England

25/06/96 VV Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, England


A rapid movement of a newly fledged bird.

33

NV82605

22/07/95 4F Snettisham, Norfolk, England

06/04/96 R Heacham, Norfolk,England

0 Km 258 days

One of the adult breeding birds controlled in the following spring by Wash Wader R.G.

(WWRG)

NV55065

19/02/95 6 Heacham, Norfolk, England

07/06/96 R Snettisham, Norfolk,England

0 Km 465 days

Ringed by WWRG in winter and subsequently nest trapped as a breeding male.

NV55298


10/03/96 R Heacham, Norfolk,England

0 Km 385 days

NV55068


10/03/96 R Heacham, Norfolk, England

0 Km 385 days

NV55061



0 Km 385 days

NV55297



0 Km 385 days

NV55059



0 Km 385 days

All originally ringed by WWRG and retrapped the following winter. They were colour ringed

as part of the study being undertaken of the breeding population. As yet we do not know

whether they belong to it or are migrants.

NV79099



0 Km 601 days

Pullus ringed by the group and controlled by WWRG in early spring possibly having returned

to its natal site to breed.

NV81325

15/06/95 1 Snettisham, Norfolk,England


0 Km 295 days

Another pullus ringed by the group returning to its natal site.

34

BV89218


31/05/96 R Snettisham, Norfolk, England

0 Km 2405 days

Ringed by WWRG, BV89218 was nest trapped by NWNRG as a breeding female seven years

later.

Many of the Ringed Plover controls involve birds ringed by NWNRG and controlled by

WWRG and vice versa. The group are pleased to acknowledge the co-operation and

involvement of WWRG in our colour ringing project which has resulted in many of these

recoveries.

Sanderling Calidris alba

NT00142



0 Km 51 days

NT00147



0 Km 51 days

NT00145



0 Km 107 days

A trio of this species ringed by the group and controlled by Wash Wader R.G. NT00145 was

still present on 05/05/96

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

J973512

10/06/95 4M Burnham Overy, Norfolk, England

06/06/96 R Weybourne, Norfolk, England

26 Km E (94 DEG) 362 days

Controlled almost exactly a year after ringing at a site where it was thought to be breeding,

this male seems to have moved to a different location to breed in 1996.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

RS25230

12/11/93 3 Holme Dunes, Holme-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, England

26/04/96 X Wimbotsham, Norfolk, England

40 Km SSW (195 DEG) 896 days

An unfortunate road traffic casualty.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

RK35446

02/02/94 5 Stallingborough, Lincolnshire, England

10/01/96 R Burnham Market, Norfolk, England


35

RK89616

15/01/96 6 Burnham Market, Norfolk, England

21/02/96 R Kortwoude, Friesland, The Netherlands

366 Km E (86 DEG) 37 days

The first recovery of this species to the continent although it has long been known that our

local starling populations in winter are increased by birds of continental origin.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

VP19719


17/02/96 VV Druridge Bay, Northumberland, England

311 Km NW (326 DEG) 70 days

VR98537


03/03/96 RR Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire, England


VR98545




VR98546




VR98541




VR98540

17/02/96 5 Heacham, Norfolk,England



VP19779

19/01/96 5 Heacham, Norfolk,England



VP19772




VP19795




VP19794




36

VP19831

26/11/95 3 Holkham Meals, Norfolk,England


34 Km WNW (293 DEG) 98 days

VP19765

09/12/95 3 Salthouse, Norfolk,England

31/01/96 VV Kessingland, Suffolk, England


All these recoveries were the product of our colour ringing programme.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

SX48982



0 Km 51 days

SX48975



0 Km 107 days

SX48984



0 Km 108 days

All three ringed by NWNRG were controlled in the same winter by WWRG.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

3L3150

10/09/95 3 Litlington, Sussex, England


244 Km N (6 DEG) 224 days

A spring passage migrant, the ultimate destination of which is unknown.

In addition we are awaiting details of a Norwegian ringed Whitethroat from the BTO!

RECOVERIES AND CONTROLS 1990 TO 1996

Species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total

Barn Owl 3 1 2 6

Black-headed Gull 1 1 2

Blackbird 7 6 3 5 1 2 24

Blackcap 2 1 1 4

Blue Tit 1 1 2 4

Brambling 1 1

Bullfinch 1 1

Chaffinch 1 1 2

Common Gull 1 1

37

1990 to 1996 continued.

Species 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Totals

Coot 1 2 3

Pied Wagtail 1 1

Dipper 1 1

Dunnock 1 1 1 2 5

Fieldfare 1 1 1 3

Fulmar 2 1 3 1 3 10

Goldcrest 1 1

Great Tit 1 1 2

Greenfinch 12 4 1 3 2 2 24

Green Woodpecker 1 1

Grey Plover 1 1

Guillemot 1 1

Jay 1 1

Kestrel 1 1

LesserWhitethroat 1 1

Magpie 1 1 2

Marsh Harrier 3 2 1 6

Mute Swan 18 37 19 19 15 3 105

Oystercatcher 1 1 2 4

Pink-footed Goose 1 1

Redpoll 1 1

Redshank 1 1

Reed Bunting 1 1

Reed Warbler 1 3 2 1 1 8

Ringed Plover 1 9 3 12 25

Robin 1 1 1 1 4

Sand Martin 4 13 5 12 34

Sanderling 3 3

Sedge Warbler 3 1 1 5

Snow Bunting 6 1 8 5 12 32

Song Thrush 1 1 2

Sparrowhawk 1 1

Starling 2 5 1 1 3 2 14

Swallow 3 1 1 1 6

Turnstone 1 3 4

Twite 1 1

Wheatear 1 1

Whitethroat 1 1

Willow Warbler 1 1 1 3

Yellowhammer 1 1 2

Total 6 63 74 56 74 47 48 368

38

Wing lengths and weights of Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe caught on the north west Norfolk coast in spring, an analysis to determine the incidence and timing of the leucorhoa race.

J.Middleton 8 Back Lane, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8EY An analysis is made of wing lengths and weights of 164 male and 145 female Wheatears caught on the North west Norfolk coast in the springs of 1990 - 1996. Wing lengths ranged 92 - 118 mm in males and 90 - 106 mm in females. Mean wing length (in both sexes) was longer in April and May than in March. When wing length frequencies were generated they indicated the presence of two subspecies - 52% nominate oenanthe (males mean wing length 97.9 mm, females 94.4 mm) and 48% leucorhoa (males mean wing length 105.1 mm, females 102.0 mm). Weights ranged 19.9 - 50.0g in males and 19.6 - 48.0g in females. The mean weights (in both sexes) were heavier in April and May than in March and mean weights in May were heavier than in April. 76% of leucorhoa males and 53% of leucorhoa females were caught before 1May and a comparison with other published studies indicates earlier migration of this race along the n.w. Norfolk coast compared to Wales (Skokholm and Bardsey). It is concluded that the North west Norfolk coast intercepts the passage of Greenland/Iceland Wheatears in spring, though the proportions from these two destinations is not yet known.

INTRODUCTION The world population of Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe has been estimated to be in the region of 125 million (Moreau 1972). With a breeding distribution of about 320 degrees, it is almost circumpolar ranging from north-east Canada to Alaska (Cramp 1988). Only about 1,600 kilometres separate the two breeding populations of Alaska and north-east Canada (Condor 1989). Four races are recognised:- (1) the nominate oenanthe being the main Eurasian race. (2) the East Canadian, Greenland and Icelandic leucorhoa. (3) the Spanish, south-east European and central Asian libanotica. and (4) the north-west African seebohmi (Cramp 1988). Although this paper is concerned with only two of them :- the nominate O.o.oenanthe and the O.o.leucorhoa races. Apart from a few stragglers that winter along the eastern seaboard of the United States south to the West Indies, which are considered not to be a distinct wintering population (Snow 1953),and birds that winter regularly in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys of Iraq, the entire Palearctic population winters in Africa, in a broad belt south of the Sahara from the West African coast to the Indian Ocean and south in eastern Africa to northern Zambia (Cramp 1988,

39

Moreau 1972)). With the leucorhoa race wintering almost exclusively in the west, in the Senegambia and Sierra Leone (Cramp 1988). Wheatears of both European subspecies O. o. oenanthe and O. o. leucorhoa migrate through western Europe, in spring and autumn. The Greenland Wheatear O. o. leucorhoa, migrates directly from the nearctic breeding areas to the coast of western Europe (from Britain south to Spain), it undertakes what may be the longest transoceanic migration of any passerine bird of upto 2,500 km, with many birds being recorded far out to sea in autumn (Snow 1953). The return in spring is thought to take a more overland route (Snow 1953). Occasionally both subspecies have been recorded migrating in very large flocks, with large falls, for example 8,000 on the east coast in Suffolk, and other parts of the east coast in September 1965 (Axell & Pearson 1966, Davis 1966), and on the Isle of Man (10-20,000) in October 1986 (Thorpe 1987, 1992). These falls usually occur in autumn, whereas the return spring migration through the north-west Norfolk coast is more protracted with the first arrivals in early March continuing through April and May and even into early June. Very little or nothing has been published on the spring migration of Wheatears through eastern Britain although data is available for two sites in Wales, Skokholm, Dyfed (Condor 1989) and Bardsey, Gwynedd (Jones 1992). Three hundred and forty five Wheatears were trapped in spring between 1990-1996 in north west-Norfolk and biometrics were taken on three hundred and nine. The sexes are readily separable using plumage characteristics. Only two birds could not be confidently sexed and were excluded from the analysis. This paper examines these data in order to evaluate the frequency of the races involved and to compare results with other published literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS Birds were trapped using either drop door Potter traps measuring 325 mm long x 250 mm wide x 250 mm high or spring nets of our own design with a basal area of 300 mm x 300 mm, baited with mealworms, the larvae of the flour beetle Tenebrio molitor, although most were caught in the spring nets. The study area was between Snettisham, National Grid Reference TF6433 and Warham TF9544, most birds were captured between TF6433 and TF6637. Data were available for 164 males and 145 females. Birds were sexed using plumage characters and only two birds could not be sexed. Ageing is less certain and although most adult males can be separated from 1st summer birds (in their second calendar year), with females this separation is more difficult (Svensson 1992). In this paper all age classes are aggregated and no attempt is made to separately analyse the different ages, although separation and analysis on the basis of sex is. Wing length was measured to the nearest 1 mm along the straightened, flattened chord using method three as described by Svensson (Svensson 1992). Weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 g on a Pesola spring balance. All Wheatears caught in spring, that detailed biometrics were available for, were included in the analysis, except for the two birds that could not be sexed, data were available for March, April and May, and additionally for three females caught in June.

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RESULTS Wing length. Wing length frequencies were generated for both sexes and are shown in Figures 1a and 1b. There is a very large range of values:- males 92-118 mm and females 90-106 mm. The graphs of both sex classes exhibit a bimodal distribution indicating the presence of two populations.

Male wing lengths ( n = 164 )

Length mm

02468

101214161820

oenanthe leucorhoa

1a.

Female wing lengths ( n = 145 )

Length mm

02468

101214161820

oenanthe leucorhoa

1b Figures 1a and 1b: Wing length frequencies for Wheatears caught in north west Norfolk spring 1990-1996.

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Separation of the data by calendar month shows quite substantial differences and is shown in Table1. Table 1: Wing length of Wheatears caught on the north west Norfolk coast in spring, 1990-1996, showing sample size (n), mean and standard deviation (s) and range.

Males Females Month n Mean s mm Range n Mean s mm Range March 31 97.5 1.80 93-101 17 94.5 1.23 93-97 April 106 101.8 4.60 93-118 90 97.8 4.34 90-106 May 27 102.9 3.70 92-110 35 101.7 2.63 94-105 June 3 102 2.00 100-104

Mean wing lengths for females were significantly lower than for males (t = -5.429, df = 307, P <0.0001). In all three months the mean wing length for females is lower than for males and was significantly lower in March (t = -6.197, df = 46, P <0.0001), and in April (t = -6.206, df = 194, P <0.0001), but there is no significant difference between the sexes in May. Additionally for both sexes the mean values for March are significantly lower than for April (females: t = -3.147, df = 105, P = 0.0021, males: t = -5.074, df = 135, P <0.0001), and for females the mean values for April are also significantly lower than for May (t = -4.987, df = 123, P <0.0001). These differences together with the large range of wing length values indicate the presence of Wheatears from more than one population or subspecies. Wing lengths given for ssp. oenanthe range from: males 93-102 mm, females 90-97 mm and for ssp. leucorhoa males 99-110 mm, females 96-108 mm (Cramp 1988). Svennson (1992) suggesting criteria for the separation of the leucorhoa race states that males having a wing length >102 mm and females with a wing length >97 mm should be leucorhoa. When these criteria are applied, the analysis indicates two discrete populations with parameters as shown in Table 2. Table 2: Wing length values of two populations of Wheatears passing through the north west Norfolk coast in spring, 1990-1996.

Males Females Population % of

total Mean s mm Range % of

total Mean s mm Range

Small birds (= oenanthe)

57 97.9 2.36 92-102 47 94.4 1.49 90-97

Large birds (= leucorhoa)

43 105.5 2.45 103-118 53 102.0 2.26 98-106

It can be seen that for males 57% were ssp. oenanthe and 43% were ssp. leucorhoa whilst for females 47% were ssp. oenanthe and 53% were ssp. leucorhoa. However this takes no account of the overlap in wing length ranges of the two subspecies of males 99-102 mm, and females 96-97 mm, a range of values to which no definite sub speciation can be applied, and is shown in the graphs in Figs2&3.

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The separation being effected at, for males:- >102 mm wing length = leucorhoa, and for females:- >97 mm wing length = leucorhoa, assumes that all the birds of both sexes which fall in the overlap area are oenanthe. This question of the overlap in wing length values, of both sexes, and for both races, is returned to in the discussion towards the end of this paper. Weights For this parameter there was a very large range of values:- in males from 19.9 to 50.0 g, and in females from 19.6-48.0 g, the heaviest Wheatears of both sexes were more than double the weight of the lightest. In all these analyses, the mean weights for males were higher than for females in each month (March-May) and for both sexes there was an increase in the mean weights over the preceding month (March-May), in addition the mean weights of an admittedly small sample (n = 3) of females captured in June also showed an increase over the preceding month and is only included for completeness, these results are shown in Table 3. Table 3: Weights of Wheatears caught on the north-west Norfolk coast in spring, 1990-1996. Although only 3 females were caught in June and no males they are included for completeness.

Males Females Month n Mean s mm Range n Mean s mm Range March 31 24.6 2.34 19.9-30.0 17 23.6 2.55 19.6-28.5 April 105 27.7 3.77 21.6-43.8 86 25.5 3.22 20.0-36.0 May 27 34.3 7.87 20.9-50.0 35 32.6 5.20 24.2-48.0 June 3 40.6 5.12 35.8-46.0

Table 4: Weights of two populations of Wheatears caught on the north-west Norfolk coast in spring 1990-1996.

Males Females Population % of

total Mean s mm Range % of

total Mean s mm Range

Small birds (= oenanthe)

57 25.7 2.76 19.9-41.7 *

47 23.7 2.04 19.6-29.0

Large birds (= leucorhoa)

43 31.5 4.84 23.0-43.8

53 30.5 5.26 20.6-48.0

* two outlier values of 45.3 g and 50.0 g, both with wing lengths of 102 mm excluded from the analyses. Both these birds (males caught in May), although racially assigned as oenanthe on the basis of the method used for separation (Svensson's criteria), fall within the overlap range quoted for leucorhoa and referred to and shown graphically previously. These very high weights would make more sense if these birds were in fact leucorhoa.

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Timing Wing length values were plotted against date of capture both for males and females. The resultant graphs (Figs 2&3) show that in every month "small" birds of both sexes were in evidence. Whilst "large" birds did not appear until, in the case of males the 9 April with the majority not appearing until the 16 April, and in the case of females apart from single records on the 4 April and 13 April the majority not until after the 17 April. Only ten males and two females with wing lengths within the ssp. oenanthe range were caught after 1 May. Analyses revealed that of the 70 males with wing lengths >102 mm, (43% of the total males captured, ie of both races), 53 (76%) were in April, and 17 (24%) were in May. Of the 77 females with wing lengths >97, (53% of the total females captured, ie of both races), 41 (53%) were in April, and 33 (43%) were in May, and 3 (4%) were in June. This is shown in Table 5. Table 5: The numbers of Wheatears of both races caught in spring 1990-1996 relative to the month of capture.

Males Females Month oenanthe leucorhoa oenanthe leucorhoa n % of total n % of total n % of total n % of total March 31 33% nil 17 25% nil April 53 56% 53 76% 49 72% 41 53% May 10 11% 17 24% 2 3% 33 43% June nil nil nil 3 4% Total by race

94 100% 70 100% 68 100% 77 100%

Total birds 164 Males 145 Females These results were further investigated in relation to the incidence of each race by splitting April and May into two periods, from the 1-15 April and 16-30 April, and from 1-15 May and 16-31 May, March was not split as no leucorhoa birds of either sex were involved. Analyses of the data showed that of the:- ssp. oenanthe 33% of males and 25% females were in March. 42% of males and 49% of females were during 1-15 April, and 15% of males and 24% of females during 16-30 April. and of:- ssp. leucorhoa 7% of males and 2.5% of females were during 1-15 April, 69% of males and 51% of females were during 16-30 April, 17% of males and 21% of females during 1-15 May, and 7% of males and 22% of females during 16-31 May. This is shown in Table 6.

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Table 6: The numbers of each race of Wheatears caught in spring 1990-1996 showing the occurrence in each month further subdivided into two parts.

Males Females Month oenanthe leucorhoa oenanthe leucorhoa n % of total n % of total n % of total n % of total Mar 31 33% nil 17 25% nil Apr 1-15 39 42% 5 7% 33 49% 2 2.5% Apr 16-30 14 15% 48 69% 16 24% 39 51% May 1-15 6 6% 12 17% 1 1% 16 21% May 16-31 4 4% 5 7% 1 1% 17 22% Jun 1-16 nil nil nil 3 3.5% Total by race 94 100% 70 100% 68 100% 77 100% Total birds 164 Males 145 Females

These results, whilst not dissimilar to the finding of Condor (1989) who considered that most Wheatears passing through Skokholm (Dyfed) "after 15 April, and particularly after 1 May" were of the leucorhoa race, show that it is mainly in the second half of April that the leucorhoa race passes through the Norfolk coast. Whilst Jones (1992) states that "it is in May that the larger, heavier birds pass through Bardsey". On the basis of separation by wing length, males of the leucorhoa race are moving through the area mostly during the period 16-30 April (69%), while females are more protracted 16-30 April (51%), 1-15 May (21%), and 16-31 May (22%). Differential migration of the sexes with a temporal gap between males and females, has been commented upon by researchers in Italy (Spina et al 1994) Reference to Table 5 shows that 76% of all leucorhoa males were caught before 1 May and 53% of leucorhoa females. It would appear that migration of the leucorhoa race along the Norfolk coast is earlier than in Wales with most males occurring in April not May. This discrepancy warrants further investigation, but is outside the scope of this present paper. . DISCUSSION All the Wheatears involved in this study are migrants as it is thought that the north west Norfolk coast does not support a breeding population. The separation of the races on the basis of wing length values using criteria suggested by Svensson (1992) errs on the side of caution in that it is the higher values for the nominate oenanthe that pertain. Values at the lower end of the leucorhoa range cited by Cramp (1989) are dismissed insofar as they would count for inclusion within the range of values of oenanthe, at the highest value, the 'overlap range'. This is shown graphically in Figs 2&3 where it can be seen that for males in all three months (March, April and May), there are some that fall within this range. Conversely, for females, whilst some fall within this range in March and April, none do so in May. This poses the question as to where those males that fall within this range, at these late dates, (particularly after 15 April), might be heading given that both Condor (1989), and Jones (1992) consider that the local breeders of Skokholm and Bardsey would have arrived and be established on territory in March and early April. After the 3 May, within this overlap area, no

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males were caught with wing length values less than 100 mm, values which are within the range of birds of the leucorhoa race, it may well be that given the lateness of the dates, that these too are leucorhoa. This paper indicates that 43% of males and 53% of females caught in spring can be referred to the larger subspecies leucorhoa, and 57% of males and 47% of females are of the nominate oenanthe. The ultimate destinations of the two races is not known at present, and as there have been no ringing recoveries of the study birds so far, must remain a matter for speculation. The nominate oenanthe are probably heading for destinations within Britain, Faroe or the north western continental mainland and Scandinavia. The leucorhoa race breeds in Greenland, Iceland and N.E.Canada, the Icelandic population are slightly smaller than the Greenland population but are included taxonomically with this form. Measurements for Greenland and Iceland breeders are given in Cramp (1988), taken from skins whose wings would have shrunk by between about 1 and 2 mm in length. Comparison with north west Norfolk live birds is shown in Table 7. Table 7. Wing length measurements (from skins) for Wheatears from Greenland (two samples) and Iceland (Cramp 1988) compared with live-bird mean measurements for leucorhoa caught in north-west Norfolk.

Males Females Location n Mean Range n Mean Range Greenland 18 105.2 101-109 16 101.6 99-105 Greenland 36 105.1 102-110 37 103.4 100-108 N.W.Norfolk 70 105.1 * 103-110 * 77 102.1 98-106 Iceland 49 102.6 99-107 23 99.0 96-103

* two outliers (1 at 115 mm and 1 at 118 mm) excluded, to include them inflates the mean to 105.5, a value which might indicate that this population was headed for N.E.Canada! The Norfolk birds, excluding the two outlier values, fit very well between the sets of data for Greenland and Iceland. Bergmann's rule states that, among the forms of polytypic species, body size tends to be larger in the cooler parts of the total range and smaller in the warmer parts.The recording in N.W.Norfolk of male wing lengths up to 118 mm and female up to 106 mm, might indicate the presence of some Greenlanders under Bergmann's rule, but this present paper is unable to answer the question unequivocally, and we cannot say whether Norfolk migrants are destined for Greenland or Iceland or to both, and in what proportions.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank all the landowners, especially The Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, The Trustees of the Kenhill Estate and Heacham South Beach Residents Association for permission to trap on their land. I also thank Sabine Schmitt and Philip Atkinson for help with statistical analysis and helpful comments and suggestions to an earlier draft. REFERENCES Axell, H.E, & Pearson, D.J., (1966). The great fall of migrant birds. ‘Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, 13, 250-266. Condor, P. (1989) The Wheatear. Christopher Helm, London. Cramp, S. (ed.) (1988) The birds of the western Palearctic vol 5, O.U.P., Oxford. Davis, P. (1966) The great immigration of early September 1965, British Birds, 59, 353-376. Jones, H.P. (1992) Wing lengths and weights of spring Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe at Bardsey, Gwynedd, Ringing & Migration, 13, 162-166. Moreau, R.E. (1972) The Palearctic-African Bird Migration Systems. Academic Press. London and New York. Snow, D.W. (1953) The Migration of the Greenland Wheatear. Ibis, 95, 376-378. Spina, F., Massi, A., Montemaggiori, A., (1994). Back from Africa, whos running ahead, differential migration of sex and age classes in Palearctic-African spring migrants. Ostrich, 65.2, 137-150. Svennson, L. (1992) Identification guide to European passerines (4th edn.) published privately by the author, Stockholm. Thorpe, J.P. (1987) Mass migration of Wheatears. Peregrine, 6.2, 82-83. Thorpe, J.P. (1992) A large fall of Greenland Wheatears following exceptional weather conditions. Ringing & Migration, 13, 125-126.

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Territoriality and the breeding biology of Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula at

Snettisham.

D.Liley School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia,

University Plain, Norwich, Norfolk.

INTRODUCTION

Plovers of the genus Charadrius are wading birds of open habitats. Of the 32 members of the

genus, 18 breed in coastal habitats (Hayman et. al.1986). Of these 18, 4 are listed amongst

the world's most threatened species (Collar et. al. 1984). The reasons for these species

current perilous status are not clearly known, but in each case human disturbance and

increased predation levels are cited.

Plovers are territorial during the breeding season. The question of how predation and

disturbance could affect a territorial species population dynamics is complicated to answer.

In adopting a breeding territory the owners of that territory exclude other individuals from

that area. Late comers are forced to settle elsewhere or not breed. To determine how

predation and disturbance affect such a system it is first necessary to address such questions

as how do pairs select a territory, which factors determine where a pair choose to nest and

how 'poor' does a territory need to be before a pair will not breed there? North-west Norfolk

Ringing Group and the RSPB at Snettisham have been colour-marking Ringed Plovers at

Snettisham and Heacham since 1994, and this population is now the focus of Phd research

trying to determine how predation and disturbance affect a territorial species.

This account combines previous year’s data and the work of this year to give a brief overview

of the work and results so far.

METHODS

In 1994 and 1995 adults and pulli were trapped and colour marked along approximately four

miles of coast between Heacham and the south end of the RSPB Reserve at Snettisham. The

distribution of nest sites was plotted on a map, and nests checked regularly and clutch size,

hatching dates and outcomes were recorded. The results and methods are described in

previous NWNRG Reports. In 1996 the same methods were continued, although the following

were added :

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The study site was extended northwards to the south end of Hunstanton.

• Birds were trapped away from the nest and pre breeding using spring traps and cannon

nets.

• The location of all Ringed Plovers seen on regular transects was mapped, allowing

movements of individual birds to be monitored through the season.

• Data was collected on behaviour, recording territorial displays, aggressive interactions

and foraging.

• Eggs were measured, weighed and photographed at all nests.

• Habitat descriptions, recording % sand, substrate size, substrate colour and distance from

footpath were taken at each nest.

• Random habitat descriptions were taken to allow comparison with nest habitat

descriptions.

• Slides of nests were used to give an indication of how well hidden the eggs were in

different nests: 33 different observers were timed as to how long it took them to spot the

eggs in each slide and thus a mean detection time was calculated for each nest.

• Deserted eggs were used in field detectability experiments, being placed on different

backgrounds and observers asked to search for them: the number of eggs found at each

site being used as an indication of how well camouflaged the eggs are against each

background.

To enable different areas of the beach to be compared, the study site is broken down into 13

sections. 10 main sections occur, each consisting of a similar habitat, with section 1 being to

the north and section 10 to the south. 3 further divisions were made by splitting 3 sections

into sub sections according to the level of disturbance. The sections are shown in fig. 1.

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Fig 1: Study site and division into sections RESULTS Summary of 1996 Season 68 nests were found in 1996, and a further 3 broods were seen and the nest had not been found, thus at least 71 nesting attempts occurred during the season. Two pairs re-nested after losing their first clutch, and so at least 60 pairs attempted to breed. The data for the season is summarised in table 1.

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NORTH WEST NORFOLK RINGING GROUP MEMBERSHIP 1996

Secretary : Mike Reed Chairman : John Middleton

Treasurer : Terry Hallahan

Phil Atkinson Durwyn Liley

Ged Andrews Phil littler

Colin Cross Sabine Schmitt

Paul Fisher

Trevor Girling

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The group would like to thank all those landowners, tenants, wardens and organisations on

whose land our ringing activities have been carried out for their assistance and support and

apologise in advance for any omissions.

Mr J.A.Stilgoe Crabbe Hall Farm, Burnham Market

Mr J.Everritt Shammer House, North Creake

Mr J.Sexton Bluestone Farm, South Creake

Mr C.Coe Great Bircham

Mr E.Cross Flitcham

Mr H.Buscall Kenhill Estate

Mr J.Austin Kenhill Estate

Mr P.Bradley RSPB Titchwell

Mr P.Fisher RSPB Snettisham

Mr J.Scott RSPB Snettisham

Mr R.Harold Holkham N.N.R.

Mr M.Vawser Snettisham Coastal Park

Mr J.Barrett The Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

Mr S.Harris The National Trust

Mr J.Reed The National Trust

Mr S.Dukes Fishers Ltd, Fakenham

Mr P.Fisher Fishers Ltd, Fakenham

Atlas Aggregates

The Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

The Ken Hill Estate

The RSPB

The Norfolk Ornithologists Association

Norfolk County Council

English Nature

The National Trust

Heacham South Beach Residents Association

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NORTH WEST NORFOLK RINGING GROUP CONSTITUTION

Philosophy

The North West Norfolk Ringing Group shall exist to study and teach all aspects of ornithology

but primarily through the ringing of birds.

Priority will be given to activities involving important conservation species.

Membership

All prospective members will be vetted by the group.

Prospective trainees must complete a 3 month probation.

Trainees must be able to demonstrate that they have the dedication necessary to progress

through to a permit upgrade.

All trainees requiring a permit upgrade must show a satisfactory level of ringing competence.

Guest ringers will be expected to show a level of ringing competence satisfactory to the group

before operating on a group site.

All members will respect the confidentiality necessary regarding Schedule 1 species.

Finance

Members will pay an annual subscription.

Members are responsible for their own permit fees and renewals.

Non-member visiting ringers will be asked to contribute to ring costs.

Expenditure will be restricted to group equipment and expenses where considered justified.

Equipment

All equipment purchased by the group will remain the property of the group.

Should the group disband the equipment will be divided amongst group members and any

remaining funds donated to the BTO.

Personal equipment used by the group remains the property of the individual concerned.

Procedure for Ring Purchase

'A' permit holders may purchase rings in the group’s name quoting the group number 9152.

The ring string numbers must be notified to the group secretary.

C permit holders including specific C may only purchase rings direct from the BTO (quoting

the group number 9152) with the permission of their Trainer who should endorse the official

BTO order form accordingly.

When the C permit holder receives rings that they have ordered from the BTO, the ring string

numbers must be notified to their Trainer who will in turn notify the group secretary.

Trainees are not permitted to purchase rings. The rings that they use initially will be provided

by their trainer who will be reimbursed by the trainee for the rings that the trainee has used.

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Training

In December 1993 the BTO announced in Ringers Bulletin that there was a need to review

permit criteria and that there should be a move away from ‘numbers’ ringed to a more ‘skills’

orientated training regime.

The North West Norfolk Ringing Group endorsed this thinking as we had already adopted the

Ringing Training Record developed by Ian Spence and his team who very kindly permitted its

use. The Group has a structured training programme based on the acquisition of skills. We

operate in a variety of habitats throughout the year.

All group members, not just Trainees, are encouraged to take the opportunity to ring with

other ringers or groups. In this way experience can be obtained in different situations,

sometimes gaining an insight into specialist methods or techniques such as cannon netting

which couldn't be provided within the NWNRG. Group members, especially Trainees are

encouraged to participate in ringing courses, where they will meet a wide variety of fellow

ringers and Recognised Trainers. These occasions provide welcome opportunities for the

exchange of ideas and information.

Notwithstanding that it is within their own Trainers remit to recommend permit upgrades,

group thinking is that advancement should be via a recognised ringing course. In this way

independent assesment of ability will occur, which in itself is also a measure of the training

received and therefore of the Trainer.

THE NORTH W EST NORFOLK RINGING GROUP P

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