the The newsletter of the Survey life of a local organiser See page 6

WeBs engagement in africa 1

recording geese in weBs 8 water survey update 12

Issue 30 winter 2014 Also Inside WeBS support for the IWC 01 webS SUPPORT FOR the IWC IN SIERRA LEONE 02 From the Editor in Sierra Leone 04 webs site in the spotlight 06 LO, LO, lo Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries in west Africa 07 LOAC update are currently gripped by an outbreak of the Ebola virus. 08 wild goose chasing Consequently, recounting a rewarding visit earlier this year 11 International swan census 12 WAter rail survey update to one of the world’s poorest countries now under further 13 webs online help immense pressure, is poignant for Chas Holt... 14 COunter network news 14 low tide update anuary 2014 saw a coordinated populations are readily detected. 15 goldeneye survey effort as part of the International Furthermore, not only are all the UK’s 15 WeBS training update Waterbird Census (IWC) to most important covered, but 16 backchat J count waterbirds along the whole the majority of them receive monthly of the East Atlantic flyway, focusing counts through the course of the key plus WeBS who's who, core on major sites that usually receive no passage and winter periods. However, count dates & News coverage. Of course, thanks to the we should remember that away from sterling efforts of the WeBS counter northwest Europe most other areas network and contributors to other along the East Atlantic flyway do not schemes such as GSMP, the UK’s receive such thorough coverage. The wintering waterbird populations January 2014 effort to collect data are well monitored and changes in from such areas included expeditions 2 WeBSnews Winter 2014 From the editor

WeBS News Welcome... People and organisations responsible for WeBS News.

WeBS Newsletter Contributors ...to the latest issue of WeBS News. Graham Austin Senior Research Ecologist, BTO [email protected] Neil Calbrade WeBS Low Tide Count This issue of WeBS News is slightly Organiser, BTO [email protected] Andrew King WeBS Local Organiser for later than usual due to the launch of Breconshire the new-look paper report in January Colette Hall Monitoring Officer, WWT [email protected] and the subsequent 2012/13 report in July. Chas Holt Head of WeBS, BTO [email protected] Releasing two reports in one year has allowed us to catch up and Heidi Mellan WeBS Counter Network the next report will be out in the spring with all the findings of the Organiser, BTO [email protected] Simon Sanghera WeBS Counter 2013/14 year.

With winter now firmly upon us, many thousands of waders will be Photography Cover: Amy Lewis, Dave King and Richard Hearn. in their wintering grounds in West Africa. WeBS’ own Chas Holt Inside: Neil Calbrade, Toni Cross, Adrian visited there last year to help monitor these and you can read Dancy, Edmund Fellowes, Chris Knights, Amy Lewis, Philip Mugridge, Keith Noble, about this important work in our opening article. Dave Paynter and Simon Sanghera

Local Organisers play a vital role in the running of WeBS, and in Newsletter Production this issue we hear from a local organiser about what it takes to do the Design Neil Calbrade Printing Swallowtail Print, Norwich job and how much satisfaction can be gained from it.

Neil Calbrade Editor of WeBS News

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is the monitoring scheme for CONTINUED FROM COVER non-breeding waterbirds in the UK, which aims to provide the principal data for the conservation of their populations and wetland habitats. The data collected are used to assess the size of waterbird populations, assess trends in numbers and distribution and to all countries in west Africa to some best to undertake surveys of the most identify and monitor important sites for waterbirds. A programme of research underpins these objectives. Continuing a tradition key stopover and wintering areas, important stretches of the Sierra Leone begun in 1947, around 3,000 volunteer counters participate in including the Sierra Leone coast. coast in the future in order to ensure synchronised monthly counts at wetlands of all habitat types, mainly during the winter period. WeBS is a partnership between WeBS supported the initiative by comparability with our own results. the British Trust for , the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (the latst covering the expenses of Chas Holt Having arrived into Sierra Leone’s on behalf of the statutory nature conservation bodies: Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage (BTO), Richard Hearn and Dave capital Freetown, the majority of time and the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland) in Paynter (both WWT) to travel to was based out of Shenge, a fishing association with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Sierra Leone. There we worked with village further south in Moyamba colleagues from the Conservation District, although we did have a brief BTO RSPB Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) to period away on the aptly-named Turtle The Nunnery, Thetford, The Lodge, Sandy, Norfolk IP24 2PU Bedfordshire SG19 2DL count waterbirds at important sites in Islands and the town of Bonthe. Our Tel: 01842 750050 Tel: 01767 680551 Sierra Leone. The initial planning and accommodation, by Sierra Leone www.bto.org www.rspb.org.uk additional support for the expedition standards, was good and we were well was provided by the Wadden Sea looked after by the locals. Most of the JNCC WWT Flyway Initiative, a project coordinated fieldwork was boat based, and included Monkstone House, City Road Slimbridge, Gloucestershire Peterborough PE1 1JY GL2 7BT by Sovon (the Dutch Centre for trips out to the Important Bird Areas Tel: 01733 562626 Tel: 01453 891900 Ornithology) which formed the overall (IBAs) of Yawri Bay and Sherbro www.jncc.defra.gov.uk www.wwt.org.uk umbrella for the coordinated census of Estuary, and involved surveys of tidal Information in this Newsletter is compiled from a variety of waterbirds in the East Atlantic Flyway mudflats and adjacent mangrove sources and does not necessarily reflect the views of WeBS partner in January 2014. A full report of the creeks. As for the birds, well where organisations. © BTO 2014. Published by BTO/RSPB/JNCC. trip to Sierra Leone is being produced, does one start? The mangrove channels When you have finished with this and importantly will focus on how held relatively low densities of birds, magazine, pass it to a friend or recycle it. Winter 2014 WeBSnews 3

Counting terns on sandbanks exposed at low tide in the shallow waters around the ynter Turtle Islands ve pa ve d a

but did provide encounters with a Estuary and the intertidal coast had all been fortunate enough to range of species including Hamerkop between were undeniably impressive have visited west Africa before, but and African Finfoot. Many thousands for waders, herons and terns, but the we all agreed that the combination of waterbirds were counted on the offshore Turtle Islands were especially of friendly atmosphere, natural vast mudflats however. The spectacle memorable and blew us Brits away in history and overall experience provided a nice mix of wintering terms of both their paradise setting engendered within Sierra Leone species familiar to the British birder, and particularly large flocks of Royal, had been second to none. Sierra such as Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Sandwich, Lesser Crested and Little Leone is a beautiful place and it is Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Terns. amazing to think that as recently Grey Plover and Sanderling. Many As well as counting birds in Sierra as the 1990s the country was of these winter on the coast of Sierra Leone, our work included engagement being ripped apart by militant Leone in internationally important with local communities and training of warfare. And now, as mentioned numbers, sharing that habitat with CSSL staff. This is hopefully the start at the start, Sierra Leone is on our more exotic birds such as Western of a developing relationship between TV screens and news channels Reef Egret, Palm-nut Vulture, Pink- naturalists in Sierra Leone and the again, for further negative reasons, backed Pelican, and much more. More UK; both have much to gain from the following the spread of the Ebola unusual discoveries included a couple opportunities that such a relationship virus within west Africa. We can of Terek Sandpipers (not expected to can provide. The overall aim is to carry only hope that the outbreak is be found wintering in west Africa) out repeat surveys of key sites in Sierra controlled soon to allow Sierra while my personal pick of countless Leone, but importantly, everyone Leone to return to the relaxed highlights included a 400+ strong flock involved in the initiative is keen for state that characterised our visit of Great White Pelicans flying over some regular monitoring by locals to in January 2014. It is sad to think our boat in Yawri Bay at near touching become established where possible. that the communities and people distance, a small group of delightful It is important that the relevant that were so hospitable to us just a African Skimmers in Sherbro Estuary, conservation-minded people in Sierra few months ago are now suffering. and among a flock of Black-tailed Leone continue to develop their bird If you would like to find out Godwits one sporting a geo-locator identification and counting skills. more about waterbird monitoring deployed as part of a study of Dutch- The trip itself was a great experience and capacity building in Sierra breeding birds! Yawri Bay, Sherbro for the three of us from the UK. We Leone, please contact Chas Holt. 4 WeBSnews Winter 2014 WebS Location Spotlight Litton Reservoirs Although not boasting the numbers of birds as its near neighbour , Litton Reservoirs provides one counter with a tranquil site to count each month.

Simon Sanghera WeBS Counter

mainly used as fly fisheries for trout. Chew Valley. Thanks to the winter arrow country roads. The reservoir is split into two lakes by a floods, the water level underwent a Small villages. Beautiful 20m high dam and spillway, although drastic change from my first visit; countryside. Being a WeBS habitat is fairly homogeneous through when there was only a puddle on show counterN at Litton Reservoir highlights both. The shallower Lower Litton is in the lower lake and the ability to everything great about the southwest ringed by trees with a secluded, reed- stand next to the water’s edge in the corner of the UK. Just three miles filled corner that is perfect for breeding upper lake and the small row boats south of Chew Valley Lake, hidden waterbirds. Walking along the path languishing on the partially exposed away behind some semi-confusing on the northern edge of Lower Litton, lake bottom, to depth increasing by turns, Litton Reservoirs are a past the perennially empty lodge, an almost two metres across the whole picturesque setting for any activity, old, broken shed, takes you to the top upper lake and water re-filling every surrounded by trees and farmland, of the dam and Upper Litton. This inch of the lower lake, leaving only with fantastic views of the Mendips. upper reservoir is much larger and the tips of the reeds above the surface. It is a quiet area, well away from the deeper (up to 70 feet), with a longer With both lakes being so small, and sounds of the roads, and with only and narrower profile. A path runs paths alongside the water’s edge, the occasional or individual with the ringlet of trees, with steep visibility is excellent and the distance out walking their dog, or enjoying the banks meeting the water’s edge. This makes identification of species a simple countryside. makes it an unattractive location for task with a regular pair of binoculars. Built around 1850, Litton small waders, but the inner lining of WeBS Counts at Litton have a Reservoirs were constructed to reeds and trees growing up through sporadic history. Starting in the 1960s compensate a then-reduced water flow the water provide excellent cover for annual counts were carried out, in the River Chew and provide water dabbling and diving . Upper sometimes with as few as two visits in to the houses and mills operating in Litton ends at a small stream, which a year, and between 1985 and my first the region. Today, the reservoirs still in itself continues under a road and count in December 2013 there were support Chew Valley, although are on through a small farm, back towards only 18 core counts. The small size of Litton doesn’t attract a wide range of species, with only 14 species counted during my tenure. My constant companions at the site are Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Coots, Moorhens and five Little Grebes – a personal highlight of my visit as they can be relied upon to be seen in the same areas every visit. Gadwall and Teal were present during the first couple of counts, but have since departed and not returned. In their place, a couple of breeding pairs of Great Crested Grebes arrived, alongside Canada Geese and the odd Cormorant sunning themselves on the logs protruding from the water. Surprise visitors have included Grey a Herons and Little Egrets perched in the shrubbery and Mute Swans calmly sangher preening on the lakes. Herring and

simon Winter 2014 WeBSnews 5

WeBS Snippets ap hy o gr t p h o o n i c r oss t

Great Crested Grebe and Canada Geese are regularly recorded at Litton Reservoirs. my l e wis a my

Opting out of paper reports The WeBS Partner organisations strive to reduce the use of paper where possible. While we will continue to produce paper WeBS Reports and Newsletters for the foreseeable future, we are always looking at ways to reduce the number of copies printed. If you are a WeBS Counter and you would like to opt out of receiving them, please contact [email protected] to a let us know. Remember, both the report and sa ngher newsletter are available si m o n to download from the website at www.bto.org/ Black-headed Gulls pass overhead, to every month. During every count I webs-publications but rarely land on the lakes. Total realise how much I owe to the numbers have varied between 40 and kingdom and how grateful I am to 200 (February) birds, although typical be able to count at such a small and Recording null counts numbers are between the 50 and 80 peaceful location. An escape from The recording of gulls and mark. Numbers of Mallards have the city, an excuse to forget about terns is optional under been boosted by a successful breeding my thesis for a couple of hours, and WeBS, but in order to season, with 58 ducklings counted in knowing that I am helping avian ensure we correctly record May with at least 30 surviving into research in some small manner, are just true zero counts, please June at least. a few more reasons why I enjoy being a be sure to the box in I started volunteering for WeBS WeBS counter. WeBS Online or on the after being drawn into the world of paper form if gulls or terns waterfowl and waders through an were looked for but were inspirational lady, whose contagious I would also like to offer thanks to Jim not present. affection for these was hard and Kostas, who have joined me on to resist, and to gain experience of every count so far and the following bird identification and monitoring to “nature explorations” to Chew Valley help with my career in behavioural Lake and other protected wildlife areas. research. Yet counting at Litton has gone beyond that, turning into a cathartic excursion that I look forward 6 WeBSnews Winter 2014 LO, LO, LO Without Local Organisers, WeBS wouldn’t be able to run as smoothly as it does, working as a link between the counters on the ground and the WeBS Office. Andrew King explains his role in Breconshire...

Andrew King WeBS Local Organiser for Breconshire

One of the most important jobs of an LO is to ensure the coverage of key sites such as Lllangorse Lake ke i th n obl e

he value of Wetland Bird analysing and reporting on the results. onerous now that fewer recording Survey (WeBS) counts So what is the role of a WeBS sheets are handled at the start and to monitor non-breeding Local Organiser? The main ones are finish of a count season. Contact with waterbirds,T assessing trends and in site to acquire good quality data, and to counters on a regular basis is required protection is immense. Much hard ensure that as many sites are covered to check progress and coverage in and dedicated work goes into getting as possible, with priority given to key any particular season. Many LOs also data – from counters out on their sites where possible through liaison facilitate liaison between land-owners patch, to Local Organisers (LOs) who with birdwatchers, Bird Clubs and and counters as there may be local arrange coverage over an area, estuary local communities. With the advent of considerations there, particularly or county level, and to the WeBS team on-line data submission and reporting, when new sites or counters are at BTO in overseeing the Survey and the task of Local Organiser is less being introduced. Where owners Winter 2014 WeBSnews 7 take an interest in the survey, and to to carry out their role, based on on a winter’s morning is appealing in maintain good working arrangements, personal choice and the extent of itself! counters are encouraged to provide local WeBS coverage. Those with For the Local Organiser there is some feedback to land-owners with many sites/observers have devised a much to gain – from the knowledge discussion or occasional data printouts. ‘blog’ approach, or more simply via a that the long tradition of WeBS The loss of a count site for whatever spreadsheet or notebook to manage ‘-counts’ is still upheld (some reason is regrettable and fortunately WeBS in their area. Counters across water-bodies have been covered rarely occurs, but there is a small all areas are encouraged to promptly constantly for well over 50 years) and turn-over of counters which requires input monthly data into the online that you have assisted in conserving managing. New counters generally data entry of the WeBS pages of the both species and sites of importance arrive with some previous knowledge BTO website as that greatly assists the in your area. So, if you see from of BTO survey work and are familiar LOs in their work. The BTO keeps WeBS reports or the BTO website with the range of species covered by in touch with Local Organisers and that there is a vacancy for a WeBS WeBS, but the LO may offer a joint counters through the annual meeting LO in your birding area, please give visit in the first season to inform the of the Local Organiser Advisory it serious consideration; you won’t be counter about the site, its species, Committee (LOAC) which allows a disappointed! and to show the new counter the best two-way understanding of how new access and viewing sites. Depending on developments might influence WeBS, the site and the counter’s background, as well as transferring any changes or this may not always be necessary but difficulties in the field back to BTO. in my experience it does have many For the counter, the appeal of advantages. This is especially important undertaking monthly counts seems for counting estuaries which brings to gather momentum as interest in different challenges for the LO and understanding how wildfowl and counters with a teamwork approach waders use a site becomes strangely fostered as the new counter is a addictive. This relationship is good member of a larger team each counting for the counter, the site and WeBS specific sectors of estuary at a pre- and is to be encouraged – there is defined state of tide. often a surprise too, perhaps a rarity Local Organisers employ a or changed numbers or behaviour of number of systems to allow them common species. Just to be out there

LOAC Update WeBS LOAC Representatives he Local Organiser Advisory to develop it further in the future Southwest England Committee (LOAC) provides by adding tabs for extra elements of Gladys Grant an opportunity for the counter WeBS such as the forthcoming Non- [email protected] networkT to improve communication estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS). Eastern England with WeBS staff providing ideas, The next meeting of the WeBS Nick Mason feedback and advice. LOAC is scheduled to be held at the [email protected] One issue raised during the last Nunnery on 16th July 2015. The Midlands meeting is how best to engage with minutes from previous meetings are Brian Moore younger birdwatchers who are the available via the website at www.bto. [email protected] future of surveys such as WeBS. org/webs-loac Northern England Currently, WeBS is active on social As always we are looking to hear Dave Shackleton media and has Facebook and Twitter from any Local Organisers who may [email protected] pages which have gained many be interested in serving on the LOAC Wales followers. These methods of engaging in the future. If you would like to Andrew King with a wider audience have proved to know more about what is involved [email protected] be very useful, especially as a tool for please contact Heidi ([email protected]). South and East Scotland launching the WeBS Report. If you have any comments about Neil Bielby The format of the new paper report any aspect of WeBS which you would [email protected] was also discussed and the feedback like to be brought to the attention North and West Scotland was positive and there were suggestions of the LOAC, please get in touch John Armitage for further improvements. The online with your Local Organiser or LOAC [email protected] element of the report was widely Regional Representative listed here. Northern Ireland praised, as a “mine of information” Shane Wolsey and again discussed opportunities [email protected] 8 WeBSnews Winter 2014 Wild Goose Chasing

The recording of geese in WeBS is complicated by many species having different distinct populations. By assigning geese to Detailed specific populations in the field, you can help improve our data For more information... on understanding of their distributions. how we assign populations of geese to sites, see www.bto.org/webs-geese

Graham Austin Senior Research Ecologist, BTO

eporting goose numbers and associated trends does not come without its complications. RThis is partly because we know more about the origins of our wintering geese than for most other species, and historically have been able to assign birds at particular sites to populations of known origin. Although we have mixed populations of other waterbirds in the UK, unlike the geese we cannot assign birds at particular sites to particular populations and so don’t attempt to. In winter the UK supports, for example, Barnacle Geese from two distinct natural populations, one breeding in Svalbard and another breeding in on top of kn i ght s which there is now a substantial c hr is naturalised population breeding in the Bean Geese are usually separable in the field as eitherT undra or Taiga, but this is often UK. Similarly, Light-bellied Brent not possible for biogeographic populations of other geese. Geese from two distinct populations visit the UK, and we have Greylag Goose. However although views will change over time. Geese from the Icelandic population normally enable us to distinguish So how can a WeBS counter help visiting in the winter where they join between Dark-bellied and Light-bellied by recording the most appropriate the resident British/Irish Greylags. Brents Goose, we cannot distinguish option? Firstly, it should be noted that Previously we were able to separate between the three Barnacle Geese if a counter has specified that a bird and report separately the numbers and or Svalbard from Canadian Light- comes from a particular population we trends of the re-introduced population bellied Brents, and nor can the various will not question this when preparing of Greylags which were confined Greylag Geese be readily distinguished the report even if that population primarily to England from their in the field. is not considered the norm for the forebears in Northwest Scotland, but WeBS Online and the old WeBS site in question. So if you have now the former has spread throughout count forms allow counters to specify strong evidence as to the origins of Scotland this has become tricky to say the population for all geese or record a particular bird or group of geese the least as they now occupy part of them as the generic species. When (maybe they are ringed or otherwise the winter range of the Icelandic birds the WeBS office at the BTO process marked, or have arrived with a flock of So what does this mean for WeBS the data for the online report, we have another species which must have come counters? There are some goose species rules for assigning counts recorded at from a particular country of origin), in which individuals can be assigned to the generic species level to particular you can record the bird as specific to their in the field. Generally populations. These rules are not set the relevant population and be assured counters will be able to distinguish in stone and may change over time that it will be reported as such. But European White-fronted Goose from as we learn more about the origins of if you are uncertain as to the true Greenland White-fronted Goose and birds at particular sites or when the origin of the birds at a given site please Tundra Bean Goose from Taiga Bean distributions of the birds themselves don’t make a best guess. Let those of Winter 2014 WeBSnews 9

Your WeBS Core Count priority dates for the 2014-2015 and 2015-16 seasons...

2015... 18 January 8 February 8 March 19 April a de 17 May calb r ne il 14 June Svalbard and Greenland Barnacle Geese populations look identical in the field and the picture is confused by naturalised birds in many regions. 19 July

us preparing the report make those as such - otherwise it will be assigned 16 August judgement calls and hence shoulder to the expected population. the risk of getting it wrong. There is 13 September no advantage to recording the specific Barnacle Goose population if they follow the same The populations cannot be separated 18 October rules as the processing team will apply in the field and so should simply be anyway (although to do so will not recorded as Barnacle Goose. 15 November cause any problems). White-fronted Goose 13 December Bean Goose In rare cases where you cannot You will probably be able to determine in the field whether they are distinguish Tundra and Taiga Bean Greenland or European White-fronted 2016... Geese in most cases. If so please record you can record them simply as White- specifically which you have seen. fronted Goose. But normally you 17 January Otherwise, just record them as Bean should record them as to their specific Goose and the processing team will population. If they are regular at your 21 February assign them to one or the other where WeBS site you will know which you our rules allow. are dealing with. However, a word of 13 March caution if you only get White-fronted Brent Goose Geese occasionally; the 2007–2011 10 April In rare cases where you cannot Bird Atlas (Balmer et al. 2013) shows distinguish whether they are Dark- that Greenland White-fronts can 8 May bellied or Light-bellied you can simply reach as far as southeast England and record them as Brent Goose, but this European White-fronts can reach as 5 June should only be necessary when they far as Lancashire. Furthermore, a occur unexpectedly on sites away from large flock of European White-fronted their main wintering areas. Otherwise Geese made it as far north as Orkney please record them as either Dark- in 2012. So, if White-fronted Geese On large sites counted by bellied or Light-bellied. Generally turn up unexpectedly on your WeBS teams of counters, please there is no need to distinguish between Count, please do your best to get a try to ensure the counts are the two populations of Light-bellied good look at them and don’t assume carried out on the same day because they cannot be separated in which race they are solely because of to avoid double counting. the field. But if you had hard evidence where you are! (e.g. a darvic ring or neck collar) that a Keep up-to-date with counts bird on the west coast or in Northern Greylag Goose and dates at www.bto.org/ Ireland was a Svalbard bird or one on These have become the most webs/coredates the east coast was from Greenland, problematic of the geese because then it would be useful to record them whilst it is important to monitor 10 WeBSnews Winter 2014 the fortunes of the two populations separately, the best rules we have been able to come up with for assigning birds to population based on location are nonetheless inadequate. This is not so much of a problem in Wales and England where Icelandic birds are probably few on the ground but what to do about wintering birds in Scotland? Historically, the re- established birds and the Icelandic birds barely overlapped and we could be reasonably confident that winter counts from Scotland (away from the traditional sites occupied by the northwest Scotland population) and northern England were from the Icelandic population. But now that the British/Irish population has a UK- a dr ia n d c y wide distribution there is complete The different Light-bellied Brent Goose populations have separate wintering grounds. overlap. Moreover, the resident birds are not necessarily sedentary which example, maybe you record a regular ‘Domestic’ Greylag Goose means that they are likely to be seen flock at your site throughout the We wouldn’t mention these here in the winter at sites not frequented in summer and their numbers remain except there is a lot of confusion over the summer. stable throughout the winter in which recording domestic Greylag Goose Most Greylag Geese are recorded case you may feel confident enough and what we used to refer to as the simply as Greylag and not assigned to assign your winter counts to the re-established population. A domestic to population. Based solely on field British/Irish population. Alternatively, Greylag Goose is a goose that has characteristics this is as it should be. maybe the birds wintering on your escaped from captivity or maybe a But whilst we still don’t want you to site have characteristics such direct descendant of such a goose and guess at which population your birds as white indicative of a small should not be confused with the re- are from there may be good evidence local breeding population with little established population of British/Irish that your winter birds are from the genetic exchange, something often seen Greylags. The latter are descendants resident population. This information when local British/Irish Greylags are of mainly north-west Scottish birds will not only help us when preparing sedentary, or maybe they arrive on your that were translocated to England by the report but also help us monitor the site too early in the autumn or leave too wildfowlers. There are sites where spread of resident Greylags through late in the spring to be Icelandic birds. many of the Greylags present have Scotland on a site by site basis. So, for characteristics, such as a few white feathers often associated with domestic geese, but this can equally be the result of inbreeding within a relatively closed population and have nothing to do with regular interbreeding with escaped domestic geese. In fact, individuals with domestic ancestry are probably the exception rather than the rule. It can be difficult to know where to draw the line but as a general rule, unless you have evidence that true domestic escapes have contributed to the makeup of the local birds we would prefer them to be recorded as British/Irish Greylag.

As with all populations and subspecies of geese, if you are not certain, simply a de record them as their generic species

calb r and we will do the rest based on

ne il current knowledge. Only true ‘farmyard’ type geese should be recorded as Domestic Greylag Goose. Winter 2014 WeBSnews 11 International Swan Census

January 2015 sees the next International Swan Census take place across Europe, and there is still time for you to get involved.

Colette Hall WWT

he International Swan Census, organised by the Wetlands International /IUCN SSC TSwan Specialist Group, is carried out every five years and aims to estimate the size and distribution of the Iceland Whooper Swan and Northwest European Bewick’s Swan populations. Since the first census in 1986, the Whooper Swan population has increased by 76%, with the previous census in 2010 recording an estimated population size of 29,232, compared with 16,742 in 1986. Although the majority of birds are usually recorded in Ireland, an increasing proportion of the population has been wintering mugr i dge

in Britain; particularly in England, p h ilip which in 1986 held just 10% of the Bewick’s Swan numbers have fallen dramatically, with a third of the birds wintering population compared with 32% in in Europe disappearing since 1995. 2010. The winter of 2009/10 was, however, one of the coldest and snowiest for many years and will have I-WeBS and the Irish Whooper Swan Organisers to ask for assistance likely affected the swans’ distribution, Study Group, and WWT organises in organising the census in their pushing them further south away the survey in Britain. Although a large respective WeBS regions – and many from their usual wintering haunts in proportion of sites are covered by thanks to all those who have responded Scotland. WeBS and I-WeBS, we also need to so far – but there may still be some In contrast to the Whoopers, the find coverage for areas not regularly gaps to fill. Please contact Colette Hall Bewick’s Swan population has seen covered by these surveys, such as non- ([email protected]) if you would a large decline with the population wetland areas like agricultural fields. like to get in involved in the census. falling from 29,277 in January 1995 to These additional sites will be visited Further information about the c. 18,000 counted during the January in coordination with the WeBS/I- census can be found on WWT’s 2010 census (Beekman et al. in prep) WeBS counts to locate any flocks Waterbird Monitoring website at National trends in the UK mirror that have not already been recorded http://monitoring.wwt.org.uk/get- this decrease, with the WeBS trend by the national schemes. The census involved/ and details about findings indicating a decline of -47% between also involves collecting additional from the census will be made available 1985/86–2011/12. Ireland has seen information on breeding success and here in due course. a particularly large drop in numbers, habitat use of the swans, as well as with the census in 2010 recording counts of roosting birds made at dawn just 80 birds compared with 1,244 in or dusk. 1984. The 2015 census date is 17/18 Overall, the census in Britain and January, coinciding with the WeBS Ireland is coordinated by WWT; whilst priority count dates. WWT have counts in Ireland are organised by already contacted WeBS Local 12 WeBSnews Winter 2014 Water Rail Survey Update

In Issue 28, we piloted a survey on Water Rails to see if the use of tape lures could give us a better understanding of true numbers of this secretive bird, and the results were clear.

Neil Calbrade WeBS Organiser

n the winter of 2012/13, six Water Rails, widely sites took part in the pilot study. distributed across Britain, This study consisted of counters are rarely encountered, but Icarrying out their WeBS Core Count certainly under-recorded. as usual and then revisiting the suitable Water Rail habitat and, using a tape lure to try to illicit a response, record the number of Water Rails heard. As it has already been discovered that Water Rails are very responsive to tape lures, it was not surprising that the number of birds recorded when using tape lures far exceeded those encountered by chance on a WeBS Count, although we had underestimated the difference between the two. Across the six sites that took part, 78 Water Rails were recorded in total, 71 of these were as a result of tape lure playback. This huge difference was especially apparent on the Conwy Estuary where just a single a de

bird was recorded on WeBS Counts, calb r yet 41 other records were achieved ne il using tape lures. Providing the tape luring is Map 1 Participating sites Tape lure vs Core Counts done responsibly so as not to cause unnecessary disturbance to the rails or any other birds you are trying to count on your WeBS Count then we are happy for counters to use this technology. Water Rail counts using tape lures away from your standard Core Count should be submitted as 5 supplementary counts.

Finally, a big thank you to all that water rail took part in this trial and for help with webs count 2 developing the methods. 3

1

If you are interested in trying this out 6 4 for yourself, excellent quality MP3 files can be downloaded from www.xeno- canto.org/26925 onto an MP3 player or mobile smart phone. Winter 2014 WeBSnews 13

Using the Search and Download Facility in WeBS Online

W Once you have entered your counts into WeBS Online, you can eBS then download them to send to county bird recorders or for your online own records... help

Heidi Mellan WeBS Counter Network Organiser

The Search and Download facility to pull out very specific data. you wish to send your counts is an often overlooked tool available Once you have made your to your County Bird Recorder, within WeBS Online. This tool selection you can choose to either the downloadable pdf help file enables you to extract any or all of view the results as a table or a graph (available from www.bto.org/ the data submitted for your site(s). on screen, or you can download the webs-download-guide) explains It is easy to use, as our step by step data into an Excel spreadsheet. This how to reformat the results from a instructions below show, and there are spreadsheet can be helpful when using list into a more user-friendly table. various filters available that allow you the BirdTrack List Template and if Your step-by-step guide: 1 2 3

On your data home page, click on Now, from the dropdown list, select Select which species you want, either “Search and Download”. the site for the records you wish to individual species, all waterbirds or all download records for. species.

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Select a date range, a WeBS Year or You will then be presented with a The data will be presented in an excel a specific month. Once you have done screen to confirm your search values. spreadsheet. There is a downloadable this, click “search”. Once you are happy with that selection, pdf on www.bto.org/webs-download- click on “download these data”. guide to help you work with the data. 14 WeBSnews Winter 2014 counter network

Local Organiser News (Nottinghamshire); Peter Roseveare (Cornwall (excl. Tamar Complex)); Duncan Halpin (Clwyd inland); Steve Heidi Mellan WeBS Counter Network Organiser Brayshaw (Nene Valley); Brian O’Leary (Taw/Torridge); Allan Brown (Lothian (also Fife LO)); Jamie Dunning We would like to thank Bruce Lynch (Angus); Gary Hobson (South Yorkshire (also Greater Manchester LO)); (Nottinghamshire); Dick Squires (Cardigan); Simon Taylor Russell Jones ( Cardigan); Patrick Lynch (Dundrum (Cornwall (excl. Tamar Complex)); Terry Chaplin (Taw/ Bay); Ian Hodgson (Pegwell Bay); Steve Dunstan (East Torridge); Jim Williams (Northamptonshire); Ian Lees Lancashire & Fylde); Bill Quantrill (Wiltshire); Ben (Oxford South); Alistair Flannagan (West Glamorgan & Carpenter (Oxfordshire South); Lyndon Jeffery (West Burry Inlet); Heather Hilton (East Lancashire & Fylde); Glamorgan & Burry Inlet); Richard Barnard (Humber Joan Wilcox (Lothian); Malachy Martin (Dundrum Bay); mid-South); Malcolm Balmer (Dorset); Chris Coppock Clive Hartley (Morecambe Bay North); Pete Findley (Buckinghamshire North); Kevin Feeney (Mersey Inland); (Pegwell Bay); Roger Warren (Buckinghamshire); Julian James Parkin (Chichester Harbour); Adam McClure (Co. Rolls (Wiltshire); John Jones (Dorset) and Ed Rowsell Antrim) and Stephen Hewitt (Co. Armagh). Welcome to (Chichester Harbour) for all their hard work as Local you all! Organisers and who have retired from the scheme since the last newsletter was published. Desperately seeking Organisers...

Our special thanks go out to Phillip Deacon; who retired in We are urgently seeking new Local Organisers for February after counting at Bowmoor, Cotswold Water Park Aberdeenshire; Angus; Buckinghamshire (South); Clwyd for 18 years; and to Bertha Govan who has recently retired (coastal); Durham; Essex; Kent (East and West); Halifax/ from the Firth of Forth after 26 years (including 12 years as Huddersfield area; Northamptonshire; Sutherland (excl. Local Organiser). They have been nominated by their Local Moray Basin); West Inverness/Wester Ross; Co. Down; Organisers to receive a special mention as a thank you for his Co. Fermanagh; Co. Londonderry and Co. Tyrone. support over the years! If you would like to know more about becoming a WeBS Local Organiser please contact us at the WeBS We would also like to thank the following new Local [email protected] Organisers: Kane Brides (Cheshire North); David Parkin

Survey WeBS Low Tide Update

Neil Calbrade WeBS Low Tide Organiser

The winter of 2013/14 saw Low Tide We would welcome counts from Counts carried out on 17 estuaries any estuary, even those that have not around the UK, including the yet been counted under the scheme. Medway and Deben Estuaries, Pagham Please contact the WeBS office (email: Harbour and Montrose Basin. In [email protected]) if you have time addition to these, the Blyth Estuary to count one or more sectors once in Northumberland was counted for a month between November and the first time, taking the number of February and would like to take part. estuaries which have ever been counted under the scheme to 82. As part of the online WeBS Reporting The counts for 2014/15 are currently interface, dot density maps for underway on the Dee, Alt, Dyfi The reporting interface allows between most sites and years have now been Estuaries, Hamford Water and year comparison of distributions uploaded and more will follow shortly. Portsmouth Harbour among other This allows the user to compare the sites. I hope the weather is kind to all that are due for Low Tide coverage. low tide distributions of birds using counters! Among the larger sites that have not a site between years. The density been counted for at least six years statistics for all species are also given. Although the winter of 2015/16 include the North Norfolk Coast, See www.bto.org/webs-reporting- is quite a way off, we are already Colne Estuary, Southampton Water, lowtide beginning to look ahead at sites Pegwell Bay and the Firth of Forth. Winter 2014 WeBSnews 15 In the news...

research Project: Photo Goldeneye 2015

Range shifts of wintering waterbirds are occurring along the NW European flyway due to climate change. This can be seen as increasing bird numbers in the north-eastern and decreasing numbers in the south-western part of the flyway. To understand mechanisms of range shifts, it is important to study individuals which are contributing to the range shifts. Are young birds responding more strongly than adults or vice-versa? It is poorly known whether the demographic structure of waterbird populations differ spatially. In Pochards and Goldeneyes, the proportion of adult males increases towards the north, but knowledge of the geographical age structure is limited. In addition, individuals wintering on the northern edge are more likely to be exposed to cold spells during winter and therefore at a higher risk of e s edmund f e llow mortality. Therefore, investigation of the spatial structure of Goldeneye can be identified in flight based on the wing patterns the population can also help to understand how climate may as adult males, adult females and young birds affect population demographics of waterbirds. A pilot experiment will be carried out during January 2015, The aim of this project is to investigate the demographic and researchers at the Finnish Museum of Natural History structure of the Common Goldeneye population wintering are kindly asking observers to collect samples from the along the NW European flyway. wintering population in different parts of the wintering flyway by photographing flying flocks. For further information about how to take part in To study potential demographic differences in habitat use this exciting new project, see www.luomus.fi/en/ they would like to also receive information about the habitat goldeneye-2015 and size of the flocks. training Did you know? WeBS training and mentoring The oldest Pink-footed Goose on Neil Calbrade, BTO record was a bird that reached the age of at least 39 years old. WeBS data are widely used by both A bird ringed as an adult in Tayside conservation and government bodies in 1959 was recovered in 1998 (38 to ensure protection of important years, 7 months and 7 days later) areas and also by developers as part of in Lothian. Although the distance Environmental Impact Assessments. between the ringing and recovery In order to ensure that data are site was only 66km, with at least 38 used correctly and so that these return trips to Iceland on its clock, organisations get the most out of the one can only speculate how many huge WeBS dataset, bespoke training miles that particular bird flew within courses have been run for Natural its lifetime. England staff and an environmental Often, new WeBS counters are consultancy. These courses explained daunted by the prospect at taking on It is often not appreciated how how WeBS works, how the data a site and would welcome guidance. quickly birds can travel large are collected and how to use data If you would be willing to take a distances to different locations. A provided. new counter under your wing to young male Teal was ringed on the increase their confidence in doing Mersey Estuary on 4th September There has recently been discussion WeBS Counts, please let your Local 1979 and remarkably was shot on within the WeBS LOAC regarding Organiser know. the Humber Estuary, some 164km mentoring by current WeBS counters. away later the very same day. 16 WeBSnews Winter 2014 Backchat

Word of mouth... Apologies

WeBS in social media In 2011, WeBS joined the social media revolution by creating a Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/ WetlandBirdSurvey) which to date has over 600 people liking the page. Earlier this year we created a dedicated Twitter feed (@WeBS_UK) which has already received nearly 1,000 followers. If you use either of these social media websites, look us up to keep up with all the news from the WeBS Office and beyond.

Irish population estimates This year has seen publication in Irish Birds of new population estimates for wintering waterbirds in Ireland. The In the recent WeBS Report, Waterbirds in the UK 2012/13, work combines information collected by WeBS in Northern during the production process, James McCallum’s Ireland and by I-WeBS in Eire. These estimates are used to excellent artwork of Little Grebes and Goldeneye derive associated ‘All Ireland’ 1% thresholds, which in turn inadvertently got stretched. We would like to apologise help identify wetlands of conservation importance. for that and reproduce here the artwork in its full glory. In summary, Lapwing and Golden Plover are the most More of James’ work can be found on his website: numerous wintering species in Ireland, collectively www.jamesmccallum.co.uk comprising over a quarter of all waterbirds. For many waterbirds, there has been a decline in population, and for some, such as Bewick’s Swan and Pochard, this is likely to Golden Plover records wanted reflect changing migration patterns probably due to altered An International Golden Plover census took place on conditions caused by climate change. 11–12th October 2014. If you have any Golden Plover For more detail see: Crowe, O. & Holt, C. 2014. Estimates records from that weekend away from your WeBS Counts, of waterbird numbers wintering in Ireland, 2006/07– please send them in via BirdTrack (www.birdtrack.net), 2010/11. Irish Birds 9: 545–552 using the ‘Pinpoint’ feature to accurately record the location and record the habitat they were using.

The WeBS team & contacts

Many counters and Local Organisers Chas Holt are in regular contact with the WeBS Management of WeBS, team. For those that are not sure who Core Counts, Annual Report to contact for various matters, the [email protected] following ‘Who’s who’ should help. Heidi Mellan Graham Austin WeBS Counter Network Organiser WeBS Alerts, WeBS database WeBS Online management, Statistical analyses [email protected] The WeBS Office [email protected] The Nunnery, Dave Turvey Thetford, Neil Calbrade Web Software Developer Norfolk. WeBS Low Tide Counts, Data Requests, [email protected] IP24 2PU WeBS News Editor Tel: (01842) 750050 [email protected] Fax: (01842) 750030 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.bto.org/webs