Greenshank

[Chas]

I took some photos of Greenshank today and as usual after seeing something I did a bit of surfing around for a bit more info. The RSPB Web Site tells me that only 701 over winter in the UK. Can that be right because I see them very regularly here in Devon. Anyone got any info about how common they are in the winter in the UK?

[aeshna5]

That figure does seem very high to me. The authoritative Birds of England gives WeBS data means for English estuaries for 5 year period 1995-2000.

For winter months:

Nov 191
Dec 134
Jan 177
Feb 111

Obviously these figures exclude Scotland, Wales + Northern Ireland; but I'll be surprised if the total winter population is above 350 birds. The Fal Estuary complex seems to be one of the most important wintering sites.

[Chas]

I am very surprised at this, I thought they were common in the winter in the UK because they certainly seem that way here in Devon

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Chas

I am very surprised at this, I thought they were common in the winter in the UK because they certainly seem that way here in Devon

Our British Greenshank breed in NE Scotland (720-1,480 in 1995 BTO.) They migrate to Africa in the autumn. Our wintering Greenshank are primarily from Scandinavia and in much smaller numbers arrive in the autumn and winter on coastal areas in the SW and in smaller numbers in the SE of England. There are also wintering populations in coastal areas of NE Ireland which isn't quite as large as the SW population but nearly!

SW/Devon is both on the migration path for British Breeders and holds the highest concentrated population of winter migrant Greenshank esp. the Fal, Exe, Tamar and Kingsbridge areas. So, unsurprisingly numbers here will be proportionately higher in the autumn and winter months than anywhere else in the UK. They only winter in coastal areas too in the SW, so if you are seeing them here, it's not surprising you are seeing good numbers. Parts of W Scot/western Isles also have small numbers of wintering Greenshank. Pagham in Chichester holds probably equivalent to the Kingsbridge area in Devon.

Numbers in fact of passage birds have decreased slightly, while numbers of wintering Greenshank have increased - this perhaps suggests some of our breeders may not be migrating to Africa but to Devon!

BTO Winter Atlas figures:

1988-91 - 244

1994-99 - 597

The last Atlas shows almost double the figures of wintering Greenshank and I can only assume warmer winters (yep really!) have encouraged a change in wintering pattern but without ringing data to hand, it's a guess as to whether this increase is predominately changes in the migratory patterns of British Greenshank, Scandinavian ones or even Siberian ones! It well may be that the RSPB figures ie. later than the Atlas figures have derived their records from BTO counts since 1999. In which case, the trend appears to be very upwardly mobile for wintering populations as shown in the differences between the two Atlas results upto 1999.

[Chas]

Cheers Picidae for that really good answer, its a shame that we haven't got some more info for the last couple of years. I will have a little count of my own of the birds I see on the Exe in the next few days. Obviously it won't be particularly accurate but it might paint a picture of sorts. I found a web site concerned mostly with the Langstone Harbour birds that was quite informative and you might find it interesting if you haven't sen it already.

Greenshank : Life Cycle - find out what the Greenshank eat, where they migrate to and where they breed

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Chas

Cheers Picidae for that really good answer, its a shame that we haven't got some more info for the last couple of years. I will have a little count of my own of the birds I see on the Exe in the next few days. Obviously it won't be particularly accurate but it might paint a picture of sorts. I found a web site concerned mostly with the Langstone Harbour birds that was quite informative and you might find it interesting if you haven't sen it already.

Greenshank : Life Cycle - find out what the Greenshank eat, where they migrate to and where they breed

Yes I've come across that one - a good site!

BTW I'm sure there will be a local Greenshank ringing project in your area, you might want to check it out if you are particularly interested or even go and watch. But they will certainly be able to give you a more accurate breakdown in each area as well as perhaps telling you were the birds are originating from. The results of the winter 1 Atlas for 2007/2008/ will also be available soon on the BTO site, so keep your eyes on that.

[Chas]

Cheers for that,I have in fact just started ringing training so I will talk to my mentor and see what he knows. I also bump in to lots of "switched on" bird people on my trips so will get some more info off them.