Details of colour-ringed Oystercatcher

Ringing details have come through for the colour-ringed Oystercatcher (right leg: orange ring with black digits 52; left leg: plain orange ring over metal ring) seen in Gannets’ Bay on 6th June and therefore presumed to be one of Lundy’s breeding population.

It was ringed on 17th February this year as a full adult (meaning that it was hatched in 2015 or earlier) on the Gann Estuary, Dale, Pembrokeshire. This is the first re-sighting of this individual, marked as part of a study that began in the autumn of 2015 and which has already shown that the Gann is a feeding and roosting site for many Oystercatchers that breed on Skomer and Skokholm.

This is the first Oystercatcher ringing movement involving Lundy for many years and it will be fascinating to see if there are any further exchanges involving the Pembrokeshire colour-marking scheme, perhaps shedding light on where those birds that leave the island – for at least part of the winter – go to.

Thanks to Paddy Jenks of Pembrokeshire Ringing Group and to Tim Frayling of Natural England for making this information available so promptly.

Map showing location of Gann Est, Dale, Pembs.