A colour-ringed Ringed Plover was noted today during the final act of the Teal Bay to Ocean Edge WeBS count as it resided on the shingle next to Ocean Edge saltmarsh. A bit embarrassing this. Cannot remember actually checking this elusive little wintering gang of Ringed Plover before for colour-rings, yet the age of the bird and the tendency to be pretty habitual re-winter sites suggests we may have overlooked it!
NW23526 Adult female
Ringed as a nestling at Snettisham, Norfolk on 16/7/04
Subsequently nested at Snettisham in at least 2005, 2006 and 2008
Seen: Cockersands on 30/9/07 by Ian Hartley
Seen: Ocean Edge caravan park foreshore 19/9/08
At this stage, it was not possible to be certain whether it was wintering locally, as September dates could still indicate a bird still on passage. However, todays sighting (with the "usual gang of wintering Ringed Plover") surely confirms a prospective wintering bird:
Seen: Ocean Edge caravan park foreshore 14/11/08
The Migration Atlas, referring to (winter) destinations of birds ringed in the Snettisham area states: "whilst some adults remain on the breeding grounds, others travel as far north as Lothian, as far south as Brittany and as far west as Ireland". Therefore the above bird could perhaps be described as wintering at "an average location"!
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